Unable to register Avast free edition

[bob3160]

That test fails even on a working version of Avast

[REDACTED]

That test fails even on a working version of Avast

Yes, the test will fail "even on a working version of Avast" IF one's Avast settings are set so as to cause that test file to be overlooked by Avast--OR--if that test file is not precisely constructed: must be exactly 68 or 70 bytes.

[giulio_toffoletti]

MAYBE there might be a way to ascertain that avast IS still working for those who fear that it is not after registration has expired.

There IS a way to test to see whether Avast is still working AFTER its registration has expired. Create an EICAR "test virus" file. The file is NOT a virus, but Avast--if working--will react as if it is a virus.

Create a simple text file and insert ONLY the following string:
X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
If you save it and NOT end it with a hard return (68 bytes), it will be detected as the EICAR Test String.68 "virus" (68 bytes).  If you save it AND end it with a hard return (70 bytes), it will be detected as the EICAR Test String.70 "virus".

Give it the .doc extension (because the default in Avast Free is to put .txt files on the File System Shield's exclusion list).

Play around with this BEFORE registration has expired (so that you know how your version of Avast is supposed to operate). But when you do (before registration has expired), turn OFF your File System Shield (and other applicable real-time protection) when you're creating and moving the test file (so that it doesn't get destroyed before you actually run the test).

Then, following expiration, run through the same testing procedures to see if Avast is giving you real-time shield protection. My bet is that it isn't. (I'll run the test for myself in 10 days after mine "expires" again. Unfortunately, upon my first expiration, I hadn't yet had the insight to run some "test virus" tests before I re-installed.)

When you post back here the results of your "following expiration" tests, PLEASE mention which version you were testing.

we just tested the version 2014 and it automatically autoregisters 10 days after expiration. regarding version 7 we still test it

Hi, ok, in my case i must wait. But meanwhile i am uncovered. I' ve made the test with the avast page http://web-shield-test.avast.com/ but it's go wrong. And the antivirus don't accept the new virus definition. I click on upgrade, avast download it but not do anything and wright that the antivirus is expired. Now i'm totally confused.

This is my original post. Tank you. https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=217887.0
P.s. I'm a little bit hopeless ... 

I wrote all here. One main post and this. Win xp sp3 on amd athlon xp 1800+ 1gb ram ( non sse2 ) avast free 2014.9.0.2018 expired on 1 April. I wait tha time that i need to wait. But every day i read something different...

Hi, as i wrote before and in the topic mentioned, eicar test and avast test failed. Avast free 2014.9.0.2018 expired the 1 april. I.m really curious to see what appens tomorrow 

Today are passed 10 days. My avast free 2014.9.0.2018 expired version has not self reactivated. MartinZ wrote about a fix for the weekend. This fix is also for the expired version of the software? what shall i do now? I can't make a clean reinstall because i have not the offline setup of my edition. My sistem don't support the sse2 istruction. The link for a offline setup for the not sse2 edition is multilanguage ? Thank you for the help.

[Asyn]

I can't make a clean reinstall because i have not the offline setup of my edition. My sistem don't support the sse2 istruction.

-> https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=164936.msg1322691#msg1322691

[giulio_toffoletti]

@ Asyn
Hi Thank you so much for your answer. I didn't see " universal language " in the setup properties
Do you know something about my other questions? I'm worried not to solve this question ... every action i do may cause trouble in a old sistem ... i must to be careful

[REDACTED]

IT WORKS !!!  FINALLY !!!  AMAZING !!!

Version 2014.9.0.2021: Today, at 1:30pm, Central Daylight Time, I opened the avast Free interface and went to Settings > Registration. And, for the 300th time, I clicked the "Register" button (to the right of the words "You are not registered"). The next window that opened offered me the choice to "Select" either the paid version or the Free version. When I clicked "Select" at the bottom of the Free column, the thing actually took. My avast Free (at Settings > Registration) now says "You are registered." with 361 days remaining (to April 7, 2019; it appears that the 365 day re-registration period is calculated from the date of one's last virus definition update: my last virus def update was April 7, 2018; today is April 11).

NOTE: this was done when I still had 9 days remaining on the initial 30 day subscription following the March 20 re-install. I have no idea if the same would occur if I had let the 9 days run out and that initial 30 day post-install subscription period had "expired". Nor do I know if my version will, sometime PRIOR to the 361 days running out, again offer me a chance to re-register.  I guess I'll figure those things out in about a year from now.

[Chim]

so version 7 and older also autoregister 10 days after expiration. other solution is to uninstall and install again. the fix for version 9-13 will go live later this week

Would the fix then be present in all bulk definitions updates so that from now on, anytime that I reinstalled avast and updated it with the bulk definitions update, it would be set up to never expire again?

[bob3160]

so version 7 and older also autoregister 10 days after expiration. other solution is to uninstall and install again. the fix for version 9-13 will go live later this week

Would the fix then be present in all bulk definitions updates so that from now on, anytime that I reinstalled avast and updated it with the bulk definitions update, it would be set up to never expire again?

Sounds more like an update was made to product that fixes the renewal problem.

[Chim]

The thing is though, Bob, if it were a product fix, I'm not getting how that would work with my avast 12.3.2280.  In other words, I've been using the same avast 12.3.2280 setup file that I've had in my flash drives ... well, since 12.3.2280 came out.

So, even though MartinZ does say that the fix for "9-13" which would include my 12.3.2280, will go live later in the week ... how would that work as far as fixing my 12.3.2280 say if I were to reinstall it next week for whatever reason?  Would the "product" fix as you call it be installed via the bulk definitions update that I would no doubt perform?  Or would my 12.3.2280 "product" fix itself the first time that I connected to the Net?

Cuz we all know they're not going to put out an updated version of 12.3.2280 with the fix incorporated. 

[bob3160]

Fixes or patches can be included in VPS updates.

[Chim]

Sounds like it's back again to either it's going to be incorporated into the bulk virus definitions or my avast 12 will be patched on the 1st time I connect to the Net.

Oh well.  I'll eventually find out.  For now I have 85 days left before my avast expires again.

Thanks, Bob.

[giulio_toffoletti]

MAYBE there might be a way to ascertain that avast IS still working for those who fear that it is not after registration has expired.

There IS a way to test to see whether Avast is still working AFTER its registration has expired. Create an EICAR "test virus" file. The file is NOT a virus, but Avast--if working--will react as if it is a virus.

Create a simple text file and insert ONLY the following string:
X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
If you save it and NOT end it with a hard return (68 bytes), it will be detected as the EICAR Test String.68 "virus" (68 bytes).  If you save it AND end it with a hard return (70 bytes), it will be detected as the EICAR Test String.70 "virus".

Give it the .doc extension (because the default in Avast Free is to put .txt files on the File System Shield's exclusion list).

Play around with this BEFORE registration has expired (so that you know how your version of Avast is supposed to operate). But when you do (before registration has expired), turn OFF your File System Shield (and other applicable real-time protection) when you're creating and moving the test file (so that it doesn't get destroyed before you actually run the test).

Then, following expiration, run through the same testing procedures to see if Avast is giving you real-time shield protection. My bet is that it isn't. (I'll run the test for myself in 10 days after mine "expires" again. Unfortunately, upon my first expiration, I hadn't yet had the insight to run some "test virus" tests before I re-installed.)

When you post back here the results of your "following expiration" tests, PLEASE mention which version you were testing.

we just tested the version 2014 and it automatically autoregisters 10 days after expiration. regarding version 7 we still test it

Hi, ok, in my case i must wait. But meanwhile i am uncovered. I' ve made the test with the avast page http://web-shield-test.avast.com/ but it's go wrong. And the antivirus don't accept the new virus definition. I click on upgrade, avast download it but not do anything and wright that the antivirus is expired. Now i'm totally confused.

This is my original post. Tank you. https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=217887.0
P.s. I'm a little bit hopeless ... 

I wrote all here. One main post and this. Win xp sp3 on amd athlon xp 1800+ 1gb ram ( non sse2 ) avast free 2014.9.0.2018 expired on 1 April. I wait tha time that i need to wait. But every day i read something different...

Hi, as i wrote before and in the topic mentioned, eicar test and avast test failed. Avast free 2014.9.0.2018 expired the 1 april. I.m really curious to see what appens tomorrow 

Today are passed 10 days. My avast free 2014.9.0.2018 expired version has not self reactivated. MartinZ wrote about a fix for the weekend. This fix is also for the expired version of the software? what shall i do now? I can't make a clean reinstall because i have not the offline setup of my edition. My sistem don't support the sse2 istruction. The link for a offline setup for the not sse2 edition is multilanguage ? Thank you for the help.

Today, after 11 days from expiration, my avast has it reactivated but only for 89 days. I have nothing done. What will be happens after this 89 days? I have no idea. Thank you for help, i am every day more confused...  It will be the patch do anything about it? Ty

[REDACTED]

I can't make a clean reinstall because i have not the offline setup of my edition. My sistem don't support the sse2 istruction.

To guilio

You should ALWAYS save somewhere EVERY installation file you ever use. That saved installation file is your protection in times like this.
Go to http://www.oldapps.com/avast_antivirus.php and see if you can find--and download--the installation file you need.

[MartinZ]

the fix is in the online screen where is the SELECT button. this button now basically makes different action than before. that is the fix I was talking before and is for versions 9-13.

to giulio: oh yes these old version got autoregistered for 90 days and then for 365 days. You will need to wait again, unfortunately here I don't have a better solution, this version is more than 7 years old..

[giulio_toffoletti]

@ Carlos V. Thank you for the link. I have downloaded the universal language version 10 linked me by Asyn for the emergence You have right, i have uused the online installer that time. I hope that will be not necessary  

@ MartinZ thank you so much, is perfect so. Is a optimal solution for my problem, i have no alternatives.
one question. I need to apply the fix? If you speak about the screen where is the select button, is the second screen for the registration, where you choose between free or pay version?
Thank you for the patient