Unable to register Avast free edition

[REDACTED]

I finally got a response from avast customer support. As you can see, it doesn't resolve any confusion over this issue. Unbelievable.

Hello archaeo,

Thanks for your email. I have been assigned with resolving your issue. Firstly let me apologise for the delay in the response time.

I am afraid we do not support free users, free users must use our forum,

Also, your version of Avast is too old, we no longer support this, unfortunately I do not know what will happen when your licence expires,

Many thanks for your understanding,

Best regards,
Steven
The Avast Support Team

[MartinZ]

the old versions 8 and higher autoregister 10 days after expiration. during these 10 days you still have the full protection.

[bob3160]

the old versions 8 and higher autoregister 10 days after expiration. during these 10 days you still have the full protection.

Why not simply do away with registration in the free version and end all this confusion

[MartinZ]

we did, but this is some old legacy version that we of course don't update...

[DavidR]

we did, but this is some old legacy version that we of course don't update...

I don't think that this is confined to old legacy versions.  I had it close to my last renewal anniversary and that was on 24 January 2018 with 17.9.xxxx avast free version. That cropped up when I had 12 days remaining and I clicked the protection confirmation and it updated then, including the remaining registration period.

[REDACTED]

the old versions 8 and higher autoregister 10 days after expiration. during these 10 days you still have the full protection.

To MartinZ

That statement is simply NOT TRUE !!!

When the 1-year license to my avast Free (ver. 2014.9.0.2021) expired, it stopped dead. The active protection shields shut down and could not be turned on and DID NOT WORK and I could not update virus definitions. And I was totally unable to manually re-register (or "renew" or "activate", whatever) 12 days after expiration. Yes, I could run manual scans, but for real-time protection, my avast Free program was essentially useless.  And, even if it's true that the program "autoregisters 10 days after expiration" (which did not happen to me), what good is an anti-virus program that leaves one without real-time protection during that 10 day period of time???

And, after doing an un-install, running avastclear.exe, and a re-install of ver. 2014.9.0.2021, I am totally unable to MANUALLY obtain another 1-year license ("Register", whatever). When I click "Select" in the avast Free column,  I get a small pop-up saying "Loading . . ." which sits there for 10-15 seconds and then disappears. And absolutely nothing happens thereafter. Same thing has happened at least a hundred times. Am I supposed to go through an un-install and re-install every 30 days?

[REDACTED]

the old versions 8 and higher autoregister 10 days after expiration. during these 10 days you still have the full protection.

To MartinZ

That statement is simply NOT TRUE !!!

When the 1-year license to my avast Free (ver. 2014.9.0.2021) expired, it stopped dead. The active protection shields shut down and could not be turned on and DID NOT WORK and I could not update virus definitions. And I was totally unable to manually re-register (or "renew" or "activate", whatever) 12 days after expiration. Yes, I could run manual scans, but for real-time protection, my avast Free program was essentially useless.  And, even if it's true that the program "autoregisters 10 days after expiration" (which did not happen to me), what good is an anti-virus program that leaves one without real-time protection during that 10 day period of time???

And, after doing an un-install, running avastclear.exe, and a re-install of ver. 2014.9.0.2021, I am totally unable to MANUALLY obtain another 1-year license ("Register", whatever). When I click "Select" in the avast Free column,  I get a small pop-up saying "Loading . . ." which sits there for 10-15 seconds and then disappears. And absolutely nothing happens thereafter. Same thing has happened at least a hundred times. Am I supposed to go through an un-install and re-install every 30 days?

Same exact problem here today! This statement (see attached screen shot) is A LIE!!!
I reinstalled the older version I am running (since the newest versions REFUSE to let me open my PaintShop Pro program which I use daily), but will now apparently have to re-install the older version every 30 days...unless I can find a viable alternative to Avast, or some kind of "fix" for this problem will be offered...which is highly unlikely since the so-called Avast "Customer Care" informed me that they do not provide support to customers who use the Free Avast versions and advised me to visit the FAQ section or this forum. 

I've been using Avast for years now and have recommended it to everyone I know. Guess I should have known that this was too good to last! 

[bob3160]

@Nightwing,
Maybe it's time to solve the problem with PaintShop so you can use the current version of Avast

[REDACTED]

@Nightwing,
Maybe it's time to solve the problem with PaintShop so you can use the current version of Avast

Hmmm, considering the newest version doesn't allow Internet Explorer to open.....
And besides, it would seem that I am not the only one with this problem.
Avast is claiming that (quote) "older versions will keep working, even after they've expired" (end quote) which is simply NOT TRUE, as the numerous posts on this issue attest to. I'm certain that everyone here has a good reason as to WHY we are still running an older version of Avast, and my PaintShop Pro is just one of many. Avast making outright FALSE claims as to the functionality of their product (for whatever reason) does nothing to help the issue and I seriously doubt that it will convince anyone here to upgrade to one of their paid versions.

[Asyn]

Hi guys, it has been forwarded to MartinZ, let's hope we get a reply soon...

[bob3160]

@Nightwing,
Maybe it's time to solve the problem with PaintShop so you can use the current version of Avast

Hmmm, considering the newest version doesn't allow Internet Explorer to open.....
And besides, it would seem that I am not the only one with this problem.
Avast is claiming that (quote) "older versions will keep working, even after they've expired" (end quote) which is simply NOT TRUE, as the numerous posts on this issue attest to. I'm certain that everyone here has a good reason as to WHY we are still running an older version of Avast, and my PaintShop Pro is just one of many. Avast making outright FALSE claims as to the functionality of their product (for whatever reason) does nothing to help the issue and I seriously doubt that it will convince anyone here to upgrade to one of their paid versions.

No one is talking about a paid version.

[REDACTED]

[/quote]It really has nothing to do with Avast treating anyone "that way". Microsoft hasn't supported your OS for a very long time. Most people also no longer use computers with the limitations imposed by Windows XP. Certain protection can't be implemented because of OS restrictions. In your case, the problem isn't even OS related but rather old software.
[/quote]

Who said ANYTHING about running Windows XP? Do you actually read any of these posts, or just answer random ones to get "your 2 cents worth" into the mix?

[bob3160]

It really has nothing to do with Avast treating anyone "that way". Microsoft hasn't supported your OS for a very long time. Most people also no longer use computers with the limitations imposed by Windows XP. Certain protection can't be implemented because of OS restrictions. In your case, the problem isn't even OS related but rather old software.


Who said ANYTHING about running Windows XP? Do you actually read any of these posts, or just answer random ones to get "your 2 cents worth" into the mix?
The answer wasn't directed at you. Are you here just to complain or are you actually looking for an answer

[REDACTED]

No one is talking about a paid version.[/quote]

No one, EXCEPT Avast Customer Care (see attachment)

[bob3160]

There is no direct customer support for those of us using the free version.
You receive your help through this forum or find help for your problem in the facts section.
https://help.avast.com/en/av_free/17/dashboard.html
Avast FAQ search and find >> https://support.avast.com/support/home