problems with avast freee installation and license key

[mein]

Hi ,

I have installed avast 5 fee home edition on my friends computer.  It would appear that the computer had no effective antiviral installed on it for the last 4 years at least.  I installed avast and I get an error message stating that the the trial period has expired.  Avast was not installed on it before it was norton. when I try to register it. i cannot do it within the software.  I registered it on the website. when I try to insert the license key from avast I'm getting an error message stating that this is not a valid license key any idea as to what the problem may be ?

Thanks

[SafeSurf]

Did you uninstall Norton prior to installing Avast?

Did you install an Avast Trial or Avast Free? 

Also, please give me the machine's OS, 32 or 64-bit?  Any other security software on the machine (firewall)?

[mein]

it's a win xp home edition 32 bit

and norton was fully uninstalled from the system before avast was installed

it was avast home free. 

[SafeSurf]

Regarding security software, you currently are not using any firewall (FW)?  I highly recommend you install a third-party firewall since the XP firewall is only 1-way protection and a third-party FW is 2-way protection.  For the time being, you can use the XP FW until you install one, but this gives you very little protection.

Is this how you got your license key?  Registration Key: http://www.avast.com/registration-free-antivirus.php. 

[mein]

Thank you for the tip I'll install it.  Yes that is how I got the license key.

[Lisandro]

Click on Maintenance, than Registration for online registering.
1) Open Avast.
2) Click on "Maintenance" then "Registration".
3) Fill out the form for your license key and click "Submit".

Inserting the license key into: avast! Free Antivirus, avast! Pro Antivirus and avast! Internet Security.

Hope this helps.

[mein]

that form does not appear I tried that in the first instance that is why I had to go to the website.

[SafeSurf]

You did use the correct link that I gave you for obtaining the Free registration.

Please try to repair your installation of Avast:
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. 
Then choose Repair function in the pop-up window (Repair).  Reboot.

If the Repair does not work, then you will need to uninstall and do a CLEAN install Avast:

1. Save a copy of newest version of Avast (5.0.594) for the version you need and save it to your HDD:
Free – http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_free.exe
2. Download the Avast Uninstall Utility, aswClear5.exe http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for both 4.0 and 5.0).
3. Disconnect from the Internet at this time.
4. Uninstall Avast through "Add/Remove Programs" through Control Panel. 
5. Boot into Safe Mode (hit F8 repeatedly) and run the Avast Uninstall Tool.
6. Reboot twice.
7. Clean your computer up (clean up cache, temporary Internet files, etc.).
8. Install the newest version of Avast and reboot.
9. Get Internet access and update Avast definitions.
10. Register your copy or add the license key for Free -  http://www.avast.com/registration-free-antivirus.php. 

Let me know how this works for you.  Thank you.

[mein]

I followed the instructions.  However avast was not displayed in the add remove programs section of the control panel I used a 3rd party uninstaller rebooted.  Ran the removal tool. cleaned the registry. installed the software.  The installation was going okay then it said it as finishing and the computer restarted.  Now the compute is constantly rebooting and restarting ad suggestion please ?

[SafeSurf]

I used a 3rd party uninstaller

It's a little late now, but you probably should have followed my instructions exactly.  You cannot uninstall Avast with a third-party uninstaller.

Were you able to get the Avast file for 5.0.594 installed on your HDD?

Were you able to get the Avast Uninstall Utility Tool installed on your HDD?

If yes, to the above, go into Safe Mode, and start at my previously posted instructions and start at Step # 5 (make sure you are not connected to the Internet).  Follow the remainder of the instructions I posted.  Let me know how this works.