AVAST - invalid "key" - solution

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

A BIT OF FYI:
For those of you (like me) that are using AVAST & get the "invalid key" error when trying to register, here is what I got from tech support that worked for me.

Quote:

For the program to work, you need to insert the licence key. Please do NOT type the licence key manually. The licence key is a long and complex sequence, and it is easy to make inadvertent mistakes if it is manually entered. Please use COPY and PASTE.

If your current version of avast! is Ver 4.8, then you need to disable the Self Defence Module before you try to insert the licence key.

1) Move your mouse pointer to the avast! icon(the blue ball in the system tray beside the clock). Right click the blue ball. A menu will appear.

2) Move your mouse pointer to "Program Settings/avast! settings" and left click. A window will open.

3) On the left of the window there is a column of icons. Move your mouse pointer to "Troubleshooting" and left click. Another window will open.

4) On the right of the new window, you will see six check boxes. Check/tick the "Disable avast! Self Defense Module". It is the second last box.

5) Finally, click "OK" to confirm.

The Self Defence Module is now inactive.

At this point, you should be able to insert your licence key without any further problems.

Please note that you should reactivate the Self Defence Module after you have successfully inserted the licence key into the program. Simply go back to the "Troubleshooting" window, and uncheck the "Disable avast! Self Defense Module" box.

BTW: I agree with what you are probably thinking, that the first paragraph is kind of an insult as it is a "no-brainer" to do this, but I included it anyway. As they must have SOME reason for reminding people of this.

pc7wizard

Good job B_Tux!!!

It is sometimes necessary to remind others of "common sense" instructions, because it may not occur to others, to even think of something like this..but once you remind them, they will go, "Oh, yea, that's logical"...

Excellent piece of advice... Cool

Cheers!

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2238 Location: Central FL, USA

And now, the rest of the story........ Rolling Eyes

When all else fails, uninstall the program and replace it with "AVG 8.0 FREE".

AVG (Grisoft, Inc.) has increased its "HIT LIST" to include Viruses, Trojans, Spyware, Dialers, keyloggers and Rootkits.
It's now a much more powerful program than AVG 7.5 FREE was.

FREE means no cost and NO license keys to fuss with.
You don't even have to register your install if you don't want to.
It allows you to remain totally 'anonymous' if you like.

Just a thought, Wink

The Doctor Cool

Werebo

I've just done exactly that, a week or so ago. Following the threads here about the AVG update nag-screens, I tried Avast A/V, mainly to see if it was as good as folks claimed it to be.

Sadly, Avast didn't like my system, I wuz getting non-stop time-outs and extremely slow connections. Needless to say, as soon as I discovered the link to AVG Free v8, I swapped my Avast back to my faithful trusty friend - AVG. No more time-outs or slow connections (unless it's slow at t'other end of the wire) and all is back as it was.

Wonsr · Joined: Nov 26, 2004 Posts: 42

Hey Doc! I read in another newsletter that the free version of AVG 8.0 does not have the others, only the paid version has it all. Can you check this out as I don't have it on my computer but I did install it on my wife's game machine. Smile

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Well, like I said in another post, to each his own. Whatever works for ya.

The only issue I had was getting the key to install on my ONE computer. The other one took it without a hitch.

As for AVG 8 - looked at it on a friends machine & saw issues I don't want to deal with - please done ask me what they were as after going through fixing another problem on his machine, I really done remember what they were. All I remember is telling him that I'll stick with avast if it's going to be like this.
BTW: that was a couple of weeks ago, too.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2238 Location: Central FL, USA

I don't like change!
So when I first saw AVG 8.0 FREE, my thoughts were "here we go again!".

Then when I started going through the setup screens and doing a few updates, I finally said, "Well, that ain't so bad!".
And I definitely like the greatly increased protection that the new program provides. It's not a Suite, just a much more powerful program.

I think you'll find that the Data Files for the free version are the same ones used in the Pro version. There are just fewer bells and whistles, which I decided years ago, when I did buy the pro version, that I really don't need.
I don't need a program that will update once every hour or do a full scan every hour.
That's ridiculous for a home computer! Confused

Once a day, for FREE, is more than satisfactory to me.

I'm not so closed minded that I've never tried Avast.
I have, more than once. Rolling Eyes

But every time I tried it, something like that registration thing has bit me in the pants and I've wound up UN-Installing the program in total frustration.
I'll delete any program in a heartbeat, that messes with me! Twisted Evil

I've always liked the fact that you can run AVG FREE on as many PC's as you like and still remain 100% totally anonymous.

Different Strokes for Different Folks.

Cheers Mates!
The Doctor Cool

goretsky

Hello,

It is not unusual to have problems with disk or network I/O after switching anti-virus programs. This usually occurs because the other anti-virus program was not fully installed or made changes to the system which were not reverted by the uninstaller.

To get around these types of issues in the future, check with the anti-virus vendor's technical support department to see if they have a manual uninstallation program or set of instructions to perform a manual uninstallation of the software, and follow those after performing the normal uninstall process. I would also recommend resetting the network stack per the instructions in Microsoft's knowledgebase article #299357, "How to reset Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in Windows XP" (these instructions also apply to Microsoft Windows Vista).

After you have finished that process, then try installing the new anti-virus program, and I think you will find that things work much better.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky