Whoa! I'm in exactly the same boat. I purchased Ad-aware 6.0 Build 6.181 a number of years ago. The computer was shut down for some time and I also lost my accessing information.

What gets me is that there was no concept of a renewal fee when I bought Ad-aware. I chose the Plus version because I liked some of its features.

What I don't like is being charged for something that, for all intents and purposes, was paid for once and not multiple times. Lavasoft and Norton are now the same.

I'm nopt so sure about Ad-aware and Lavasoft. Too bad - you were a good companion for a few years.

Well, no, Gus. Lavasoft and Norton are certainly not the same and, indeed, the majority of the "major players" do charge for a license renewal. With your computer "shut down for some time", it appears that you have not tried to use AAW in over two years. Ad-Aware SE was released in August, 2004.

More importantly, however, is that with your computer shut down for a length of time, you need to be sure to check for Microsoft Updates at http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Good advice (as usual) on the MS updates, Corrine.

Gus, it depends on when exactly you purchased Ad-Aware - having a (printed/saved) purchase receipt would be of great help. At some point in the past few years, Lavasoft moved from a "pay once" to an "annual renewal" basis.

I am not sure what that date was, but it would have been clearly stated in the order process.

If you believe that your purchase was before that date, send an email to generalsupport@lavasoft.com (that address is only valid for paid-up purchasers of Ad-Aware Plus/Pro). Include as much information as you can, to assist them with tracking down your license.

That is why I suggested that on-line purchasers retrieve purchase data from the element5 Support Center posted above.

Regards,

Spike

Corrine, let's not get into a tit-tat. I'm a computer professional, programming for more than 40 years. I find too often that a successful firm tends to overlook implications made when a prodect was first sold.

I really don't belive that today's Lavasoft is the firm that I did business with. And I don't think I will do further business with Lavasoft.

Too bad.

As I mentioned to Corrine, the matter is moot. Lavasoft and I are parting ways.