Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: seekingTruth on February 05, 2012, 11:36:04 PM
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Hiya everyone,
ive installed Avast Free AntiVirus 6.0 on 3 different PC's and get the same results.
When i go to online to register it replies with an error, cant find file.
When i try to insert the code i got from the email, it says invalid code.
Im running XP pro SP3.
Any replies greatly appreciated,
seek
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Have you not tried registering directly from the avastUI, that way you don't have to A) wait for an email and B) manually input the key ?
See https://support.avast.com/index.php?languageid=1&group=eng&_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=612 (https://support.avast.com/index.php?languageid=1&group=eng&_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=612).
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Hiya DavidR,
Thanks for replying, i have done all that, the first part 3 times on 3 different PC all with the same result, when i hit the last button for online register i get the error, cant find file.
If i try to use the emailed code, as in part 2, and i get the error, not a valid code.
I really want to trial Avast but just cant get it to work :-\
seek
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Do you really have installed avast Free? Or have you possibly installed the Pro-Version or Internet Security? Just a guess.
DJBone
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Hiya DJBone,
i thought the same and downloaded a fresh copy and used that, but its the same file size etc ive been using. I dont think its that,
Thanks for the reply,
seek.
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Go to avast main GUI -> maintenance -> about avast. At the upper area you will see which exact product you installed. It should say "Avast Free antivirus". If it says something about "trial", or "pro" or "Internet Security" (AIS), then you installed the wrong product, and it won't accept the same code.
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Hiya ady4um,
i did as you suggested and it said,
!Avast Free Antivirus
Program version: 6.0.0
etc
Thanks for your reply,
seek.
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try turning off your firewall and seeing if you can register..If you are just using xp firewall it;s in control panel...If that works then you will need to set avast as a trusted program...hope that helps
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avast! 6.x: Inserting the license key into avast! Free Antivirus
http://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=612&nav=0,2,42 (http://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=612&nav=0,2,42)
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Already suggested in Reply #1, but the OP has tried both methods, but still failing.
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So, reinstalling didn't work and both usual methods didn't work either?
We need screenshots attached to see what you are seeing (instead of descriptions). In your next post, use the "Additional Options" link (to the left of "post") to attach a screenshot of the window where you are trying to add the license for Avast Free.
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Hiya everyone,
Since my last post i have tried again with no firewall, no go.
i have tried reinstalling which worked ok but still no go.
as asked i have provided these screenshots.
Thanks for all your help,
seek.
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Something is not "correct" in those screenshots.
In your screen (avast main GUI -> maintenance -> registration) you need to go to the first "REGISTER NOW". Then you fill in the form. (Please do not confuse it with the last "registration form" button).
With the "REGISTER NOW" button, a form "should" open. If you see an option to upgrade to AIS, don't use it (as you want the Free edition). In such case you click ONLY on "REGISTER" (grey button) so to continue with avast Free and avoid AIS.
In the form, you need to fill in all the info, specially the name and the email info.
Then you click on "register for Free license". By this method, there is no code sent to you. It is automatically inserted. There is no file sent either.
If anything that I just described is not what you see, then please indicate EXACTLY on with step you see a difference and attach a screenshot of the exact step you see (instead of the one described here).
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Hiya ady4um,
I did start with the "REGISTER NOW" button, if you notice the form in the first pic is from clicking the "REGISTER NOW" button.
The error message is what is returned when the form is filled out and sent.
Thanks for your reply its greatly appreciated,
seek.
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As I said, there is no file or code when filling the on line form. So the first screenshot doesn't quite fit the normal behaviour.
The second screenshot also seems to come from the paid editions, not the free one.
If you keep having problems, I would suggest a clean up of you current installation. Uninstall avast Free using "Add/Remove Programs", reboot into Windows Safe Mode so to follow this instructions: http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility).
Then download ANEW avast Free (not the trial) and install it. When the installation process finishes, reboot. After that, let avast update itself and try again the Free on line registration.
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Hiya ady4um,
If you scroll up you will see i have already downloaded AGAIN the free version from Avast.
I have already gone thru the process of uninstalling and re-installing Avast.
As i have said before, i have this problem on all 3 of the PC's ive attempted to get it running on, so i assume its not THE PC.
Thanks for your reply, i hope we can resolve this issue.
seek.
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Well, the way I see it, there are a couple of possibilities (that all those systems have in common). Either the procedure has some temporary problem, or there is something wrong in your side (and please don't misunderstand me; this is just and objective observation so to try to solve the problem).
I personally used the on line method a few days ago, and it worked exactly as it should (as shown also in the article I linked to before).
So the only suggestion I have now is to repeat the whole procedure, including the downloads from the official website (and not from any other site nor link posted anywhere - not even in this forum). Why? Because if you have to wait for the process to be corrected (if it is currently and temporarily broken), you won't have definitions updates after the 30 days trial period of the Free edition of avast.
By cleaning up all traces / remnants of avast (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility)) and starting over, you can have 30 days with updates, and maybe the process will be fixed (if it is broken), and eventually you would want to try again the on line registration.
The "mindset" I'm suggesting is to "forget" what you did before, so by reviewing the download links and the procedures (as indicated in the articles), maybe you will solve the problem next time. Of course this means not only uninstalling, but also cleaning any remnants using Windows Safe Mode and aswclear.
BTW, keep updating your OS, including SPx and validating / activating it.
This case is certainly strange for me. Maybe someone else has some additional tip / suggestion.
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ok i will start again from scratch and see what happens.
The download from the Avast site actually takes you to cnet which is where im getting the download from.
c ya when ive done it again ;)
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OK, remember to remove the remnants after the uninstallation (from the link above).
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Hiya everyone,
I followed the uninstall process and when Avast was gone i downloaded the
"Avast free antivirus" again and installed it.
When the PC rebooted i can open Avast but i cant update anything, no error messages it just wont download the updates.
I have trying the online registration with the same result, it says a file is missing.
I have tried the "license key" manually and it still wont accept it.
Any ideas greatly appreciated,
seek.
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You say you can't update avast. Can you get to the Internet using everything else in that system?
Try:
avast main GUI -> settings -> updates -> proxy settings -> "Direct connection (no proxy)". Then save and retest.
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hiya ady4um,
I made sure proxy was off and direct connection was on.
I turned off all firewall and tried to update, no go.
I dont have a problem with anything else accessing the web, everything else is working fine. (browsers, Filezilla, IM, etc)
Thanks for your help,
seek.
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What about firewall rules?
Which definitions version are you using? Check it at avast main GUI -> maintenance -> about avast. Compare the numbers with http://www.avast.com/virus-update-history (http://www.avast.com/virus-update-history). Please report back.
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Hiya ady4um,
Re the firewalls, i had everything off, NO firewall, and still couldn't update Avast.
About Avast.
**********
Provides the following information.
Program version: 6.0.0
Virus Definitions version: 111128-1
I hope this helps,
seek.
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Where you downloaded your avast from? The latest stable version was released indeed on 2011DIC28, but the program version is supposed to be 6.0.1367.
Do you have any firewall installed (whether disabled or not, doesn't matter; the question is if it is installed)?
Did you have any other security tools before avast?
What other security tools do you have, currently installed?
What security tools have you uninstalled already?
Some other tools may be conflicting with avast (probably some firewall or some other antivirus not uninstalled yet) or some remnant of other security tool may be blocking / conflicting with avast (probably some firewall too, or some older antivirus you used to had).
Partial list of removal utilities:http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/ (http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/).
Before testing anything else, please reboot and don't force the update (let it reboot and work for 10 minutes).
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Hiya ady4um,
I look on my first PC and it had remnants of AVG on it so i cleaned that up and Avast loaded exactly as it should :D :D :D ty very much for your help.
Strangely tho i tried to load Avast on a 4th PC that had AVG running and it loaded/updated/registered perfectly, so i dunno but its working ty ty :D :D
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Hiya ady4um,
I look on my first PC and it had remnants of AVG on it so i cleaned that up and Avast loaded exactly as it should :D :D :D ty very much for your help.
Strangely tho i tried to load Avast on a 4th PC that had AVG running and it loaded/updated/registered perfectly, so i dunno but its working ty ty :D :D
Glad it's working.
You had AVG running on your fourth computer? Meaning both are running at the same time?
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@seekingTruth,
Uninstall the second resident antivirus and then follow the instructions for the removal utility for it. Even if currently you don't see any problems, it may conflict with avast when trying to protect you (and your system should work better with less leftover remnants).
Glad you have solved it.
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hiya all,
The old basic rule of thumb was to have 2 AV utils on a PC as non pick up 100% and with 2 hopefully the problem is solved (Y)
The long story is i had AVG on my PC's and it seemed to work ok but recently my main PC started to play up, it smelt like a virus but AVG was showing all clean, i went and got another and scanned , viruses everywhere and one on AVG, so i cleaned AVG and started a AVG scan and then it saw them all ???
i have a mirrored drive so i decided to blow one drive and start from scratch, the first thing i loaded was AV utils and all seems fine, i connect to my mirror drive to get my docs etc and all of a sudden i have some 138 infections just from looking at the drive ??? i downloaded Avast so i had a comparison and so far it says i have 138 infections :-\
grrrrr viruses >:(
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hiya all,
The old basic rule of thumb was to have 2 AV utils on a PC as non pick up 100% and with 2 hopefully the problem is solved (Y)
NEVER install more then one AV. Running multiple av can/will create all kind of windows errors and false positive detections
see the reply here from quietman7 where he explains it very good
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic186533.html
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NEVER install more then one AV. Running multiple av can/will create all kind of windows errors and false positive detections
This is not true anymore :)
avast can be installed as a second opinion (compatible mode).
But, really, who will like to have avast only as second? ;)
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In general terms it is still correct, but there exceptions, unless the AV is specifically designed to maintain compatibility (now like avast7).
Though if you have avast why would you want another AV ;D
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Hiya all,
I read the forum, it has some related stuff but most of it isn't true.
You can have 2 AV's side by side working quiet happily.
Its sad that certain AV's aren't compatible with each other which you find out quickly, such as with Avast, but now i know how i have Avast , AVG & PC Tools AV all running at the same time, all doing their thing they do differently, with no crashes or errors.
Its a tad slower but that's to be expected, and i can live with it till i get rid off all the infections.
Who would profit from everyone thinking you can run ONLY ONE AV? :P
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You can have 2 AV's side by side working quiet happily.
Go ahead, sooner or later, issues and troubles. You've been warned...
When any of them fight for the file the other could be blocked. If both try to get the file, the infection could pass.
Two antivirus would be ever worse than a good one.
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I have to say, I "feel" I have been wasting my time. Not that it matters much whatever I feel or if my time was wasted.
We are giving suggestions, and only after 20 something posts we now get to know that there are more than 1 RESIDENT antivirus working?
Well, you can have them all, but the protection and detection of malware won't be better, but worse. Your system may not crash, but the effectivity of the only relevant goal to have a resident antivirus is reduced to almost nothing.
I'm going to stop wasting my time now. Have a nice adventure with those mixed resident security tools.
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Hiya ady4um and all,
At the start with my main PC i had already removed the existing AV from the system, i was told about remnants causing trouble towards the end of the discussion. AT the beginning AVG had been removed, but after getting away from the merry go round at the beginning and being pointed to a remnant as a possible problem i looked again and found it in the files system so i assume it was still in the registry as well so i did a clean up of AVG and suddenly Avast worked, ty :D
What i do find interesting is, since this started ive downloaded and tested several AV's. If i load Avast, Comodo, PCTools, Avira, Bitdefender etc, none of them complain or warn about another AV being on the PC, the only one that does a pre-load test is AVG.
So for me it was frustrating going round n round at the start of the discussion, but at the end we finally identified the problem and the solution, again i thank you for your time and effort.
seek.
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seekingTruth, what the others have mentioned about running multiple av's is all to true so im glad that you have finally solved your problem, if you are wanting some extra security to run alongside of avast then malwarebytes is highly recommended.