[dba-Tech] Nag, nag, nag

Something went wrong with my Avast (free ed.) on machine #2 - would update
anymore.  So I uninstalled, reinstalled, no soap.
 
I went back to Avira.  It's good stuff.  Except several times a day I get
nag messages, pop-ups, they won't leave me alone.  Is there a way to turn
those off (short of upgrading with the liberal application of $ - which is
what they want).
 
My first solution would be to bail and use Microsoft Security Essentials.  
 
If I could figure out how to make Avast update, that would be best.
 
TIA
 
Rocky