Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: westaust55 on August 01, 2020, 08:51:19 AM
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My Avast free 2020 antivirus software was only installed about 1 month ago.
Recently is started to indicate that it would expire in xx days and the xx days has been counting down for the past week.
Today I am informed that
"Your AVAST Free Antivirus license is no longer valid"
IF I click on the "REACTIVATE" button to the right on the AVAST antivirus window
A new window opens giving he options for "Avast Free Antivirus" or "AVAST Premium Security"
I click on the "Select" button under the "Avast Free Antivirus"
That retuned me to the window stating
"Your AVAST Free Antivirus license is no longer valid"
Behind that a window stating:
"You have been using Avast Free for 0 days . . . ." with an option to upgrade to a paid premium version.
I have tried uninstalling the AVAST Antivirus software, rebooting my Windows 10Pro PC, and then reinstalling using download today from the Avast.com website.
It will install, then does a first scan, tells me there are no out of date software, and then it is back to the window stating
"AVAST Free Antivirus has expired"
How do I get the Avast 2020 Free Antivirus software to work on my Windows 10Pro PC ????
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Make sure Avast isn't blocked by a firewall and try again.
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Thank you for the suggestion.
However, not successful. :(
I start Avast Free Antivirus and window appears with the message:
"Avast Free Antivirus has expired"
Also now noticed at the bottom of that window to left of the "Reactivate" button is the statement:
"Your Avast Free Antivirus License in no longer valid"
Click on "Reactivate" and get the options for "Avast Free Antivirus" and "Avast Premium Security"
Click "Select" under the free option
and
returns me to the screen with
Avast Free Antivirus has expired"
After a couple of cycles I always end up back at a window with
"Thank you for activating Avast Free Antivirus"
with option to upgrade.
even after further restarts for Windows 10Pro.
Now have also tried from Taskbar to right click on the Avast Icon.
1.Registration information- tells me I am signed in but lists no applications.
2. Update Engine and Virus Definitions -
Used this to check for updates and it ran through a cycle.
I have:
- Virus definitions are up to date - Release date August 1. 2020 (ver. 200801-0)
- Your application is up to date - Release date was July 30, 2020 (ver. 20.6.2420 - build 20.6.5495.561)
But even after further PC restart I am still informed that:
"Avast Free Antivirus has expired" :(
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- OS..? (32/64 Bit..? - which SP/Build..?)
- Other security related software installed..?
- Which AV(s) did you use before Avast..?
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Windows 10 Pro 64 bit Version 2004 OS Build 19041.388
Used win10Pro since free upgrade to Win7Pro was available some years ago.
Antivirus software - Have been using Avast Free antivirus on this PC for many years - previously without problems - then the 7 day countdown to license expiry started a week ago
Firewall - Zone Alarm free firewall - Have been using Zone Alarm Free on this PC for many years
Note: my wife has virtually identical PC with same software. Looking at her PC she has no account however,
Avast Free Antivirus is active and is registered until 7 June 2021.
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Firewall - Zone Alarm free firewall - Have been using Zone Alarm Free on this PC for many years
First, be sure to get rid of all remnants of Zone Alarm..!!
-> https://support.avast.com/article/11/
Then:
1. Download Avast Free Antivirus: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions..!!)
3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
4. Reboot.
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Hello Asyn,
Please note that the Zone Alarm software is FIREWALL not ANTIVIRUS
Used for different purposes.
This combination does not given problems except on this one PC.
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Well I have un-installed Avast Free antivirus and reinstalled numerous times now. :(
Done with and without first disabling my Zone Alarm FIREWALL software.
PC reset after each un-installation.
I have tired the on-line and the off-line version. Same problem exists.
Off-line installation seemed to be unable to even update the virus definitions.
With the Online version, once installed it:
1. Updates the virus definitions, :)
2. undertakes a first check for viruses :)
3. looks for out of date apps :)
4. will even do a scan for network devices if this is selected :)
These steps all appear to be functioning correctly.
but then ALWAYS returne to the screen
"Avast Free Antivirus has expired"
and
"Your Avast Fee Antivirus License is no longer valid" :(
I see another thread by Chase0 has also been started on exactly the same topic. [https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=234552.0]
In that thread someone mentioned to delete a license file "avastlic.license" (or similar) name file.
As Chase0 has also indicated, that file does not exist in the AVastSoftware/Avast folder, nor using a search found anywhere else on the computer C: drive.
A manually forced check for App or definitions updates can be performed and informs me that both are up to date.
There seems to be nothing wrong with the actual AV software installation. It is just an issue relating to the expired license.
Where is the license information stored ?
How to resolve ?
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Hi, see if this helps: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/222/ (Changing DNS settings)
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Hello Asyn,
Tried the DNS procedure as per the link you provided.
Then manually forced update to APP and definition files.
But no change in situation.
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1. After changing DNS, reboot your system twice.
2. https://support.avast.com/article/Activate-Free-Antivirus
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Hello Asyn,
Rebooted twice as advised.
First reboot - nothing seen.
Second reboot and Avast Free Antivirus popped up a message that I was now running the latest version 20.6.
However, the next AV window is back to:
"Avast Free AV has expired
and
Avast Free Av license is no longer valid.
per your second step to activate free antivirus:
From taskbar, right click and select "Registration Information".
The AV does a "Retrieving Subscriptions"
The following AV window differs a little from the instructions and there is no listing for the
Avast Free Antivirus, No option to "UPGRADE NOW", only option to "BUY NOW"
See the attached image.
Same situaiton if I have logged in.
Note: On my wife's almost identical PC I can see the Avast Free Antivirus listed at this same screen
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Hi, beats me, but I reported it for you. Let's see...
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Hi
@westaust55,
Could you please provide me with a support file id.
Please follow these steps:
To generate the support file, please see this link.
https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Submit-support-file
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Sorry for delay in responding - work has me very busy for past few days
r@vast you did not provide a ticket number to enter into the support tool.
I have generated the support file (~7.6MB zip file)
however without the ticket number it seemingly cannot be uploaded to the Avast server.
As a Zip file and on size it cannot attach here either
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R@vast,
I have this morning (Australian time) tried again and the Avast support software did now upload a file without a ticket number.
The File ID is: QFUE0
Filename is: 20200806_2206_QFUE0_1495671961.zip
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Attn: Rv@st,
Typing: C:\ProgramData\Avast Software\Subscriptions
into the windows explorer found that there are no files in that folder. See attached image.
By comparison, my wife's almost identical PC has a file with the name "license".
EDIT:
I tried to do an "experiment" and copy the "license" file from my wife's PC into the mentioned directory on my PC.
Seems it cannot be done even with Administrator rights - blocked/locked by AVAST ???
If I create a folder as C:\ProgramData\Avast Software\Subs
then I can copy the file into that "subs" folder but not into the "subscriptions" folder.
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Attn: Rv@st,
Typing: C:\ProgramData\Avast Software\Subscriptions
into the windows explorer found that there are no files in that folder. See attached image.
By comparison, my wife's almost identical PC has a file with the name "license".
EDIT:
I tried to do an "experiment" and copy the "license" file from my wife's PC into the mentioned directory on my PC.
Seems it cannot be done even with Administrator rights - blocked/locked by AVAST ???
If I create a folder as C:\ProgramData\Avast Software\Subs
then I can copy the file into that "subs" folder but not into the "subscriptions" folder.
Hi,
Please re-install again but follow all the steps as mentioned here: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/94
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Hello R@vast,
I have gone through all the steps using the Avast uninstaller, deleted all remaining subdirectories, used Windows safe mode, checked for specified files in System32/Drivestore, etc . . .
(I must remember next time to copy all the instructions first as once in Windows safe more could not access internet to read next steps - had to use my phone . .)
Then I turned off the separate ZoneAlarm firewall software and re-installed Avast Free virus software.
However, the bad news is that still when Avast Free Antivirus software is installed I am informed that the software has expired and the license is no longer valid.
A check in the directory C:\ProgramData\Avast Software\Subscriptions
finds that there is still no license file.
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Hello all,
Today I have tried some further possible solutions and seemingly found a solution/workaround.
I tried setting the Free Avast software to passive mode and then reset the computer.
That definitely occurred as Windows10 alerted me to the fact that neither windows or Avast antivirus was enabled.
However I could not get the Avast software to update and remove the expired license indication.
While it was in passive mode I also tried to copy the license file from my wifes computer but again even with Administrator permission it was blocked.
A workaround:
What I have now done is to
(a) uninstall the Avast free antivirus software, then
(b) I could copy over the license file from my wife's computer (the relevant Avast Software folder are left in place), and
(c) re-installed the Avast free antivirus software.
Lo and behold, the license file was not removed and the re-installed avast free antivirus software now indicates my Avast subscription/license is valid. :)
From the taskbar, right clicking the "Registration Information" indicates the subscriptions on this PC as:
Avast Free Antivirus <active>
Expires August 22, 2021 (366 days left)
So while not optimal, I have seemingly worked out how to restore active/registered version.
Luckily, I had access to another PC with the free avast antivirus software from which to copy the license file.
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Hi, thanks for the feedback/workaround.