avast! 8.x: Checking whether avast! 8.x is installed, up to date, and protecting your computer
| How to check if avast! 8.x is installed, up to date, and protecting your computer? |
When contacting AVAST Technical Support with some functionality issue, you might be asked if avast! 8.x is installed, up to date and working properly. In such a case you are expected to proceed through these simple steps:
Instructions differs slightly according to which operating system you are using:
- Windows 8 | Windows 7 | Windows Vista | Windows XP
Windows 8
- On Windows 8 Start Screen or Desktop press simultaneously "Win" + "X" keys on your keyboard and select 'Program and Features' from the menu displayed in the bottom left corner.
Figure I. A
- If avast! 8.x is installed on your computer, you should see 'avast! Premier', 'avast! Internet Security', 'avast! Pro Antivirus' or 'avast! Free Antivirus' in the list of installed programs, depending on your license.
Figure II. A
Windows 7
- From the Start menu select 'Control Panel'.
Figure III. A
- Under 'Programs', click 'Uninstall a program' if you're using the default Category view,
Figure IV. A
...or click 'Programs and Features' if the Control Panel is switched into the Large/Small icons view.
Figure V. A
- If avast! 8.x is installed on your computer, you should see 'avast! Premier', 'avast! Internet Security', 'avast! Pro Antivirus' or 'avast! Free Antivirus' in the list of installed programs, depending on your license.
Figure VI. A
Windows Vista
- From the Start menu select 'Control Panel',
Figure VII. A
...or select 'Settings' and then click 'Control Panel' if you're using the Classic Start Menu.
Figure VIII. A
- Under 'Programs', click 'Uninstall a program' if you're using the default Control Panel Home view,
Figure IX. A
...or double-click 'Programs and Features' if the Control Panel is switched into the Classic view.
Figure X. A
- If avast! 8.x is installed on your computer, you should see 'avast! Premier', 'avast! Internet Security', 'avast! Pro Antivirus' or 'avast! Free Antivirus' in the list of installed programs, depending on your license.
Figure XI. A
Windows XP
- From the Start menu select 'Control Panel',
Figure XII. A
...or select 'Settings' and then click 'Control Panel' if you're using the Classic Start Menu.
Figure XIII. A
- Click 'Add or Remove Programs' if you're using the default Category view,
Figure XIV. A
...or double-click 'Add or Remove Programs' if the Control Panel is switched into the Classic view.
Figure XV. A
- If avast! 8.x is installed on your computer, you should see 'avast! Premier', 'avast! Internet Security', 'avast! Pro Antivirus' or 'avast! Free Antivirus' in the list of installed programs, depending on your license.
Figure XVI. A
In such a case that avast! 8.x is not present in your system and you want to install it, please read the following instructions:
...and otherwise, if you need to uninstall avast! 8.x read the following article:
Information about your license status (or registration status, if avast! Free Antivirus 8.x is installed) can by determined as follows:
- Right-click on the avast! orange ball icon
in the system tray and select 'Subscription information' (or 'Registration information') from the menu,
Figure I. B
- The YOUR SUBSCRIPTION screen (or YOUR REGISTRATION screen) in the avast! user interace will open,
Figure II. B
...where you can check if your Subscription status (or Current status) is ACTIVE (or REGISTERED) and that the expiration date next to Subscription valid till (or next to Current registration will expire on) corresponds to the purchased license (or to your registration).
In such a case that avast! 8.x is not licensed (or registered) yet, please read the following instructions how to insert the license file (or key) into the program:
Current version of the Program, Engine and Virus Definitions (VPS) can by determined as follows:
- Right-click on the avast! orange ball icon in the system tray and select 'About avast!' from the menu,
Figure I. C
- The ABOUT AVAST! screen in the avast! user interface will open,
Figure II. C
...where you can view information about installed avast! Product, current Program version and Virus definitions version (includes Engine).
In such a case that your avast! 8.x is not up to date, please read the following instructions how to perform the update:
Current protection status of avast! 8.x can by determined as follows:
- Right-click on the avast! orange ball icon in the system tray and select 'Open avast! user interface from the menu,
Figure I. D
...or double-click the desktop icon of installed avast! antivirus software to open the avast! user interface.
Figure II. D
- Click the 'Home'
tab on the top left corner.
Figure III. D
- If you see that protection status is SECURED (in green color with happy smiley) on the left of the screen, it means that your avast! 8.x is up to date and fully protects your computer against a malware.
Figure IV. D
Otherwise, if you see an ATTENTION (in yellow color with confused smiley) or UNSECURED (in red color with sad smiley) protection status, please click the 'RESOLVE ALL' button at the bottom to start protecting your system.
Figure V. D
If you are still unsure, whether avast! 8.x is really protecting your computer against a malware, please read the following instructions to perform a quick test:
avast! Premier 8.x
avast! Internet Security 8.x
avast! Pro Antivirus 8.x
avast! Free Antivirus 8.x
Operating systems:
Microsoft Windows 8 / Pro / Enterprise
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic / Home Premium / Professional / Enterprise / Ultimate
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic / Home Premium / Business / Enterprise / Ultimate
Microsoft Windows XP Home / Professional / Media Center Edition
