Should I run the installer exe with 4.8 installed or should I uninstall avast 4.8, reboot than install from the installer exe?
Thanks.
Also, should I use my existing free registration keys or will I need to re-register on all of my computers?
I preferred to uninstall and reinstall, although Vlk says an over the top install of 4.8 should work. The settings are so different that there is little to salvage from 4.8. As far as registration, Alwil has gone to online registration now, so each of your copies will be registered over the internet instead of having to request and enter a key.
From avast! 5.0 FAQ
Is it required to uninstall avast! 4.x before installing avast! 5.0?
Yes, but there isn’t necessary any user interaction to uninstall avast! 4.x, because installer of avast! 5.0 is able to detect previous instance of avast! 4.x and uninstall it automatically.
The FAQ is right.
Reinstalling on top of the existing version has one big advantage, actually: you keep the registration/subscription info.
I.e. your Free AV registration, or Pro AV subscription information will be picked up by v5 automatically.
I would really like to upgrade Avast Home 4.8 to Avast Free 5.0 by clicking on “Updating → Program Update”. When will this be available? Thank you! 
PS: When will the documentation (manuals) for v5 be available?
The load has to be spread so that the servers aren’t swamped…
-Scott-
I would assume, then, that over-installing is really the only way to upgrade to 5 on my wife’s computer (no internet access)? With previous versions of home/free, I could simply copy-and-paste my reg code into hers.
With v5, you can still enter the very same key as in the case of v4.8. This is meant especially for cases like this (offline computers)
Thanks, Vlk. I guess I got confused by a comment elsewhere that v5 would switch to requiring online registration … I’m still not clear what happens with her computer when my defs-update reg expires this summer and I renew it.
Or did I misread that other one I referred to, and the online registration is only going to be necessary for the Pro/paid version? That does make sense, after all … the whole point in that case is to help cut down on pirating, as opposed to the free version which I think is only to let you get statistics on users.
Ive upgraded my avast pro 4.8 version to 5.0.377, as Vlk said, on top the old version and after that, my pc frozen, and i lost my internet connection. And besides of that, avast 5 didn saved my reg key or info. So it was in trial mode. Why??
And now i had to uninstall it. And thanks god i have a backup of my 4.8 installer. So i will install it. Plz Vlk, why is this happening? Is there a way to insert the 4.8 key in ver 5?? How to do it? Thankz.
With v5, you can still enter the very same key as in the case of v4.8. This is meant especially for cases like this (offline computers)I know you know your product but this does not work this way. I had to revert back to 4.8 Pro to have a valid, licensed copy. The License upgrade link in the V 5 program leads to a password protected dead end.
If you click update program (not VPS) in 4.8, will it not download and install v5 over 4.8 automatically ???
and read the license key from 4.8 ???
No and I don’t feel it’s ready to offer it that way yet. All you get with a program update request is the signature definitions (if 4.8 is already up-to-date.)
Right,
The Automatic Update notification probably won’t be out for several months, because when that happens, Avast will want to make sure that the transition is very smooth and that everything works. Probably another three months. This is only the first day with 5.0 and during those months, I am sure Avast will be doing product evaluations and reviews.
My guess is that probably within 6 months, but no more than 12, Avast 4.8 will no longer be supported and everyone will have to go to version 5.
Jack
Sounds like you used the IS installer on top of the Pro AV (this is how it behaves)
Not yet, the upgrade campaign will be rolling out continuously for the next 2-3 months
Yes it should.
Thanks
Vlk
Thankz for ur answer Vlk, but no, i have downloaded the Pro Version of Avast, and i have re-downloaded it, but there is the same problem, im tired of trying to upgrade my avast 4.8 to 5. Is there any other way to type the 4.8 key into 5? Cuz it could be great! Thankz again. I will try to install the 5 pro on top of 4.8 pro, let’s see if it suceed now. If not i will tell you. bye.
Here is my setup debug file and a screenshot of the message that appears when it try to install Avast 5 Pro version over my 4.8 version. I will upload a reproduction of my installation error, using the Problems Step Recorder that comes with win 7. Hope that helps. Thankz for ur help, and i will be waiting for an answer. By the way, i tried to install avast with admin rights. So there is no chance to error.
What it looks like to me…In order to get a license file for your upgraded install you must be online.
Otherwise you may go to the resend license file page on avast main website with your 4.8 key and have the license file sent to you. Once you have the license file you may specify it during install for offline installation if the install did not complete.
It appears to me the install completed but did not finish the license activation process. You may be ok but if you have issues with services not starting, reinstall.
Once you have the file install it under maintenance and subscriptions.
Im online on the entire process. And also, when i try to activate the trial period it freezes my pc. And I dont know what else to do. I have tried to install it several ocations now. I will upload a recording of the entire process to megaupload. So here Avast users and technicians can watch it.
Edited
Here is the file on megaupload server. Plz Help me!!
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GEJRQTN5
PS. Is Compressed with WinRar
I’ve succeeded on installing FREE Version and activating it with my pro key. It’s a pitty that i cant install the pro version on my pc.
Maybe the sandbox shield is causing this mess, i dont know, because in free version there is no sanbox shield or process, and its doing it well. What could it be Vlk??
I wish I could install the free version but I couldn’t! In both cases, free or Pro, Avast 5 freezes up the PC at the end of the installation process. I’m talking HARD freezes that even prevent Task Manager from running! Only a push on the hardware power button saves the day. I can uninstall and then roll back to 4.8 Pro without issue. Clearly, there is something happening at the end of the installation process of version 5 that is a BIG bug. I can’t believe I am the only one this is happening to??