I am still using 4.8 there is no big rush to go to 5 since 4.8 will be supported for quite some time, I personally like to wait a while and let them iron out all the bugs, let the ones that rush in find out all the problems, before I update. There have been several significant bugs popping up that they are working on and fixing. Some may have no problem at all where as some might never know since every system is different. I posted about some of them on the AVAST5 thread here. So that decision is totally up to you. You can put 5 over 4.8 as part of it's install process it will remove the old version however many people prefer doing a removal first, you will get both answers on this one.

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4 Scan saved at 4:47:37 PM, on 9/18/2011 Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600) MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702) Boot mode: Normal Running processes: C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe C:\PROGRA~1\Webshots\Webshots.scr C:\Program Files\Logitech\MouseWare\system\em_exec.exe C:\Program Files\AGI\core\4.0\AGCoreService.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\SearchIndexer.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\SearchProtocolHost.exe C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Windows Internet Explorer provided by Comcast O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - (06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3) - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - (72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E) - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveShellExtensions.dll O2 - BHO: avast! WebRep - (8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06) - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - (DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9) - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - (E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C) - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll O3 - Toolbar: avast! WebRep - (8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06) - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech Utility] Logi_MwX.Exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast] "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\avastUI.exe" /nogui O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe ...

abreeze has there been any other antivirus on that pc at all prior to your trying to install AVAST? did it come pre loaded with anything? It really sounds like it is having a conflict and that happens most often with remnants of a prior AV on the pc. AVIRA is a good product, it does have a nag screen but there is a way to stop that if you can do a little googling for it. You can always go to the AVAST user forums and tell them your problem they may know exactly what is causing it. http://forum.avast.com/index.php Here is a link that might be useful: avast forum

are you sure it is not just letting you know it is time for you to re register your current free version? It will let you know and you simply have to do the email again for a new registration number and insert it as you did originally. Register your free product or perhaps did you not register it when you installed it and now you are at the end of your 60 days? if that is the case simply follow those directions and register it, it is free. Here is a link that might be useful: how to use the registration key