Got my activation code, now what should I do?

[nicoret]

I have been using Kaspersky Internet Security (with “automatic renewal” turned off) since about 2014, and I have a My Kaspersky account. My KIS for Windows 7 expires this week. From the Kaspersky website I bought KIS 2020 for 2 PCs for 2 years. I got an activation code and downloaded startup.exe (2.8 Mb file). I also got an email from Kaspersky sending me to a page where I can create a Kaspersky account (presumably a My Kaspersky account, but it doesn’t say so). Because I already have an account, I did not create a new one.

Now what do I do? My options for having KIS working again appear to be:

1. Uninstall the current KIS on both PCs, install the new version from startup.exe, and paste in the activation code;
2. (Variant of above - install the new version without uninstalling the current version and have the installer sort out which bits to replace/delete/add;)
3. Wait until the current KIS expires on both PCs and hope that I can then simply paste the activation code to get them both working again;
4. Go to my My Kaspersky account, paste in the activation code there and see what happens next (what would happen next?)

NB: The email from Kaspersky about opening a Kaspersky account is worrying because maybe Options 1, 2 and 3 won’t work unless I have an account? But I already have an account. But Kaspersky doesn’t know. Should I open a new account anyway just to make sure it all works?

 

[richbuff]

What I like to do is wait until about one day before licence expires, then enter new activation code.

Also, I like to disconnect from internet, uninstall old version > restart > install new version > connect to internet > make sure current activation code is applied, back up current activation code on MyKaspersky > update databases > restart > double check databases are updated again > restart again. 

[nicoret]

What I like to do is wait until about one day before licence expires, then enter new activation code.

Also, I like to disconnect from internet, uninstall old version > restart > install new version > connect to internet > make sure current activation code is applied, back up current activation code on MyKaspersky > update databases > restart > double check databases are updated again > restart again. 

Thanks richbuff. So, I can either (a) enter the new activation code or (b) disconnect from internet uninstall the old version etc.? Or do you recommend I do all of the above?

I see here the possibility of uninstalling KIS but keeping the licence information. Is there a good reason to keep the old license number when installing a new version of KIS? I have a license number in my current KIS (expires Saturday) but for the new version I’m installing all I have is an activation code. Where do license numbers come from?

 

[richbuff]

You’re welcome. Please first make sure that both the old and new activation codes are available to you. Option 2 is usually instructed by Kaspersky Lab, but I like option 1. If you decide to go  with option 1, you don’t need to keep the old license information in your registry. 

[nicoret]

You’re welcome. Please first make sure that both the old and new activation codes are available to you. Option 2 is usually instructed by Kaspersky Lab, but I like option 1. If you decide to go  with option 1, you don’t need to keep the old license information in your registry. 

Option 1 worked!