First make a backup of you old license file of avast.
Uninstall any other antivirus, as it will give you problems. Moreover, you should run the respective removal utility for that other AV after you uninstall it.
The same goes for avast. Download the removal utility for avast. Run it. If any (hidden) folder remains, which contains “avast” or “alwil” in its name, delete it too.
Then download a new version of avast. Simply download the same trial edition you previously had. After installing it, reboot. Then use the old license file you had (you made a backup as suggested, right?).
Adding the new license will be the next step, if you get to the point to use your old one first, which is still valid as per your previous post. Please report back, so we can get to that last step with additional instructions.
You can find additional info in the KB articles too.
Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your help but hope I will
not have to go through all of the steps you described.
FYI: I may have given you the impression that I was using a trial version.
I was attempting to renew a PAID version of Avast AV. I am uncertain if that
is relevant info but I thought it would be worth mentioning.
Since my initial inquiry:
Avast is functioning and subscription info relfects my renewal!!!
HOWEVER, I still do not have a license key.
Does it matter? Can I ignore the missing key?
I understood that you were not using a trial. I mentioned the trial because you asked about how to get the same edition of avast to download anew, and that’s the way the correct download you need is published in the web site. There is no “final”, but a “trial”. When you add the license, the trial turns into the final version.
I don’t understand now what exactly you mean by your last post. Y thought you wanted to keep using your previous license, and add the new period you bought. But now it seems you were able to use the new license, loosing the old one altogether. In addition, I don’t understand what the new problem is, about some missing key. ???
Is avast updated to its latest program version? Is it using the latest definitions update? Is it using your valid license (meaning, not in trial mode)?
If all is fine, I’m glad you solved your problem (but it is not clear how you did it, so others could learn too).
Sorry. I am not doing a good job of communicating with you.
Let me respond to your last question:
1 Avast “Your Subscription” screen
There is a place to insert “LICENSE FILE”
and one for “ACTIVATION CODE”.
As I said, Avast is working but I did not actively
key in an ACTIVATION CODE or a LICENSE FILE.
2 My objective in this whole process was to merely renew
my subscription which was about to expire in a few weeks.
I had no concern about using the “previous” license.
I just wanted things to work for another year.
Rant/complaint-The process of subscription renewal should be
an intuitive one that requires little time or frustratiion.
I am not a happy camper. I have some lingering issues from
the system crash I experienced–BIOS issue that probably could
easily be solved by a tech savy person.
I am not tech savy nor do I want to be. I just want things
to work and am quite willing to pay for good software.
So, this renewal process has been ugly and has left me
with a BIOS problem that I cannot resolve on my own.
ady4um, thank you very much for your help. I appreciate
your instruction and advice.
First, the renewal of the license is supposed to be simple enough. For some reason, you had some problem with it.
About the license, without it avast is working as trial. Check avast main GUI → maintenance → registration.
If you don’t care about the last weeks your previous license file was supposed to work, then put your new license file in your “documents” folder and double click on it.
For further questions about the registration / license, please check the KB articles, which are simple enough. Don’t hesitate to ask again if the KB articles are not enough.