avast! 8.x: Upgrading from avast! Free Antivirus to avast! Premier

Once you have purchased your license for avast! Premier 8.x, an e-mail with your license file attached will be sent to the e-mail address specified during the purchase process. It is assumed that you have avast! Free Antivirus 8.x already installed and you now want to upgrade to avast! Premier 8.x. There are two ways to upgrade:

• Preferred method
  
  
• Alternative method
  
  

¹ Note:
Normally you can install and use avast! Premier 8.x for a free 30-day trial period. For further use of the program it is necessary to purchase a license.

² Note:
If you have purchased a multi-license to protect several computers, you will need to carry out the same process on each computer on which is avast! Free Antivirus 8.x installed e.g. by forwarding the email with the license file attachment to each user, or by saving the license file on a shared drive, USB stick etc.

This is the easiest way to upgrade, recommended for most users. All you need to do is the following:

1. Open the e-mail containing your license file, and depending on your mail client software, open the attached License.avastlic. For example, in Microsoft Outlook just double-click the attached License.avastlic.
   
   
   Figure I. A
   
   ³ Note:
   Some types of mail client software or web based e-mail accounts may not have built-in support for opening attachments. In this case, you have to save the attached License.avastlic to your computer, in a location where you will easily be able to locate it, on your Windows Desktop for example. Then locate the license file and double-click it.
   
   
   Figure II. A
   
   
2. If you have purchased more than one avast! Antivirus products at the same time, and their licenses are merged in the one license file, you'll get to the Subscription dialog, where you have to select avast! Premier 8.x from the 'Product type' menu. Please, also check your license parameters below - if your have just renewed your license, you can choose from more than one expiration date, and therefore you should select the most latest one. When it's done, click 'OK' to continue.
   
   
   Figure III. A
   
   
3. A License File Information message will then appear. Click 'Yes' to insert the license file with the displayed parameters.
   
   
   Figure IV. A
   
   ...and afterwards you should see a message confirming your license has been successfully inserted. Click 'OK'.
   
   
   Figure V. A
   
   
4. The program will now automatically install the additional components, and when it's finished, you will be asked to restart your computer. Click 'Yes' to restart.
   
   
   Figure VI. A
   
   
5. After your computer restarts, the upgraded version of avast! Premier 8.x will be fully installed. On the YOUR SUBSCRIPTION screen in the avast! user interface you can check if your Subscription status is ACTIVE and that the expiration date corresponds to the purchased license.
   
   
   Figure VII. A
   
   

Once the license is inserted into avast! Premier 8.x, you can continue to receive automatic updates for 12, 24, or 36 months from the date of purchase, depending on the purchased license. At the end of that time, it will be necessary to purchase and insert a new license file for further use of the program and to remain protected against the very latest threats.

This procedure could be useful if you experience some issues with the previous method, e.g. if the *.avastlic file extension isn't associated with avast! Free Antivirus 8.x but with another software application on your computer, etc. In this case, you need to follow these steps:

1. Open the e-mail containing your license file, and depending on your mail client software, save the attached License.avastlic to your computer, in a location where you will easily be able to locate it. For example, in Microsoft Outlook right-click the attached License.avastlic, select 'Save As' from the context menu,
   
   
   Figure I. B
   
   ...and save this file on your Windows Desktop.
   
   
   Figure II. B
   
   
2. Right-click on the avast! orange ball icon in the system tray and select 'Registration information' from the menu,
   
   
   Figure III. B
   
   ...or double-click the avast! Free Antivirus desktop icon to open the avast! user interface, click 'MAINTENANCE' tab on the top, and from the menu on the left select 'Registration'.
   
   
   Figure IV. B
   
   
3. The YOUR REGISTRATION screen will appear, where you should just click 'Insert avast! Pro Antivirus / Premier license file'.
   
   
   Figure V. B
   
   
4. A new window will open in which you can browse your computer to locate your License.avastlic file. Once you have located it, on your Windows Desktop for example (see instructions in step 1.), click 'Open'.
   
   
   Figure VI. B
   
   
5. If you have purchased more than one avast! Antivirus products at the same time, and their licenses are merged in the one license file, you'll get to the Subscription dialog, where you have to select avast! Premier 8.x from the 'Product type' menu. Please, also check your license parameters below - if your have just renewed your license, you can choose from more than one expiration date, and therefore you should select the most latest one. When it's done, click 'OK' to continue.
   
   
   Figure VII. B
   
   
6. A License File Information message will then appear. Click 'Yes' to insert the license file with the displayed parameters,
   
   
   Figure VIII. B
   
   ...and afterwards you should see a message confirming your license has been successfully inserted. Click 'OK'.
   
   
   Figure IX. B
   
   
7. The program will now automatically install the additional components, and when it's finished, you will be asked to restart your computer. Click 'Yes' to restart.
   
   
   Figure X. B
   
   
8. After your computer restarts, the upgraded version of avast! Premier 8.x will be fully installed. On the YOUR SUBSCRIPTION screen in the avast! user interface you can check if your Subscription status is ACTIVE and that the expiration date corresponds to the purchased license.
   
   
   Figure XI. B
   
   

Once the license is inserted into avast! Premier 8.x, you can continue to receive automatic updates for 12, 24, or 36 months from the date of purchase, depending on the purchased license. At the end of that time, it will be necessary to purchase and insert a new license file for further use of the program and to remain protected against the very latest threats.

avast! Premier 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