My license for free version 4.8 expired, and I registered on line. When I didn’t get an email with the new number, I asked for a resend, but was informed that my computer was already registered. However, new virus definitions will still not download because “the license has expired.” I then telephoned support and was told that licenses for version 4.8 will no longer be issued, and I would have to upgrade to version 5. This was not stated on the web site. I have seen the new version, and very much prefer the interface of 4.8. Is a license for 4.8 really no longer available?
No…you should upgrade to 5.1 as soon as possible
Hello Lulud: Version 5.1 is a much stronger and adaptive Security Suite with added protection features. Also version 6 will be released fairly soon this year and has even more strength and features to protect your system to the high degree that Avast has become known and respected for. 
The interface is not the “problem” here.
Version 4.8 has its day off… The support will end soon. Months… Weeks…
The reason is that the protection level of version 5 (and 6 soon) is much greater than with version 4.8.
Why not upgrade and get safer?
Let me be the first to confess that I have been known to go off at a tangent when answering questions here :-[ and yes, 5.X is better than 4.8 and ‘lulud’ should get with the "new"program, but I’d like to have a go at… well, answering the question.
The avast! Free renewal page does still renew 4.8 licenses. If you are using a Hotmail account the confirmation email (example below) may not get through. Other than that all I can say is it works for me (which is of no great comfort if it doesn’t work for you).
"Dear avast! user,
Your registration of avast! free antivirus was successful. Your license key must now be inserted into the program.
Your license key is:
---------- cut here ----------
W46616330H1200A0013-XXXXXXXXXX
---------- cut here ----------
If you are using avast! Home Edition v4.8, the following instructions explain how to insert your license key. If you are using avast! Free Antivirus v5.0, please follow the instructions on the second page of this email."
I renewed v4.8 a couple of months ago and it worked fine. I still use it on my Win 98 computer, where v5 is not an option. This XP machine has v5.1.
davews, 4.8 support (updates) will end soon…
To all:
Many thanks for your comments. I discovered that the problem was in the email provider–their spam blocker was acting up. Tried another email address, and the license registration for v4.8 came through smooth as silk in less than one hour.
lulud