chris said, However, you seem to have downloaded the free version of the software.
I just take Avast at its word when I download from a link that is labeled as “Avast Free”.
I would be surprised if there is any difference in the downloaded contents of the “Free” or “Premium” version. I have the impression that the free version contains all or most of the features of Premium, the difference being that the Premium features are unavailable without a paid key.
Even if you seem to have downloaded the free version, you are wrong saying that there is no difference between the downloaded contents of the "Free" and "Premium" version
(1) and that the free version contains all or the features of the Premium version
(2).
(1)The weight is 360Mo for one and 371Mo for the other.
(2)Just have a look on
Compare starting with the missing firewall on the free version, is that a detail for you?
Add to that, shields:Real site,Sandbox,Anti Spam,Ransomware,Webcam,Data shredder,Auto SU....Details for you but probably not for everyone.
the difference being that the Premium features are unavailable without a paid key.
This is why I reacted by wondering if you have downloaded the free version file because if you had downloaded the premium version, you must enter a paid key, ..., to activate a free key, you must uninstall premium and install free.
In the near future, I’ll be installing Avast Free on a new Windows installation. I’m betting that I’ll see the same problems with licensing that I had on this computer. If so, I’m lucky that the Activation Code I was given for Premium is good for more than one computer.
In this case, it's like betting that the millions of avast users can't activate the free version on their computer.
Until proven otherwise, that's not the case and you seem to be isolated with this problem.
I'm thinking more of a procedural error or an isolated problem on your computer.