Norton AntiVirus problems

ntl customer · 15-11-2003, 14:21

I am having problems with Norton Antivirus 2001.

I keep getting this message at logon (see the attached screenshot). I can logon as normal and everything seems to be working OK (apart from NAV). If I try and enable the auto protection from the main program screen, it still displays the same message and does not work.

I had this problem last time around (before I decided to reinstall Windows 2000 because of this very problem). Last time I tried to deinstall/reinstall but that did not appear to work. It would stop when it tried to reinstall the NAV Services and would say that it could not be installed and terminate.

No amount of removing/reinstalling could get it to work and I was left with no antivirus software.

Before anyone says it, I will not change AV program to anything else or upgrade it, as I do not trust free antivirus software and cannot stand the bloat of versions of NAV above 2001.

I have googled for an answer, but all the pages I find are ones written in another language (Russian or Thai ?!) or those dealing with hardware configurations (RAID) that I do not have.

I am running Windows 2000 Professional SP4

EDIT - Attached screenshot from Event Viewer.

Thanks

15-11-2003, 15:12

the only thing I've come across that prevents NAV working like this is a virus. I know you said that you don't trust the free ones, but it may be an idea to try one like AVG & scan your hard disk with that & see what it comes up with. You could also try scanning with Adaware or Spybot. My thinking is that something has altered a registry entry that is staying "sticky" even when you uninstall and that is preventing NAV from working when re-installed.

- or I could be barking up totally the wrong tree altogether

(I use McAfee).

Tricky · 15-11-2003, 15:28

I'm guessing that the service is trying to run as a specific account, do you have anything in event viewer that indicates that it couldn't start do to a logon failure?

Although the error would indicate that it couldn't find the files - did you use the default directories for installation?

hoggyspuds · 15-11-2003, 17:36

I have heard that if you uninstall and then reinstall norton, it won't work or has difficulties working because of files or registry settings left behind from the uninstall process and that the only wat around it was to format the h/d and start again. Drastic I know.

15-11-2003, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoggyspuds

I have heard that if you uninstall and then reinstall norton, it won't work or has difficulties working because of files or registry settings left behind from the uninstall process and that the only wat around it was to format the h/d and start again. Drastic I know.

there should never be a necessity to wipe a hard disk because of 'sticky' registry setting. There are plenty of tools around that can sort this out, one of the best is one called jv16 Power Tools, unfortunately this used to be free, but the latest version has to be paid for.

you should still be able to get the free version at this link

http://www.pcmedixwebs.com/jv16.htm

ntl customer · 15-11-2003, 18:01

Quote:

I have heard that if you uninstall and then reinstall norton, it won't work or has difficulties working because of files or registry settings left behind from the uninstall process and that the only wat around it was to format the h/d and start again. Drastic I know.

Last time around, I used the rnis program and tried to reinstall NAV and encountered the same problems that I described in post #1, so nothing had changed.

The result, I had to wipe and reinstall everything which took a long time

Quote:

I'm guessing that the service is trying to run as a specific account, do you have anything in event viewer that indicates that it couldn't start do to a logon failure

Nothing. The only other things I get related to NAV is the one attached to this post.

Quote:

Although the error would indicate that it couldn't find the files - did you use the default directories for installation?

Yes. It is located in e:\program files\norton antivirus\

DES_1001 · 15-11-2003, 18:14

Hi ya! I have had this problem myself a while ago, it is quiet easy to fix (well it was for me) hopefully for you too, what it is the virus definitions have became currupted.
1, make sure that the auto protect is turned off
2, start windows explorer, and navigate to the following folder:C:\programs\common files\symantec shared\virusDefs
3,in the right pane, locate the numbered folders.They will look something like this 20000713.068 20010118.008 etc
4,Delete each one.DO NOT Delete any of the other folders!!
5,close windows explorer
6,click start,point to search,and then click files or folders
7,make sure that look is set to (C

8,in the "search for files or folders named" box type or copy and paste the following, and then click search now
livetri.zip settings.liveupdate
9,Delete any files that are found!!
10, now run liveUpdate to download new virus definitions

if you follow the steps you should have norton up and running again!

peachey · 15-11-2003, 18:51

if you asked me Norton is a waste of space
usually peddled to an unknowing buyer at PC world
by a salesman

it causes so much aggro and alters so many settings
behaving like a server etc

that you are porbably better off just having the virus
and downloading the cure

DES_1001 · 15-11-2003, 19:17

norton can cause some problems if not set correctly! but it does do a good job!!

ntl customer · 15-11-2003, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by DES_1001

Hi ya! I have had this problem myself a while ago, it is quiet easy to fix (well it was for me) hopefully for you too, what it is the virus definitions have became currupted.
1, make sure that the auto protect is turned off
2, start windows explorer, and navigate to the following folder:C:\programs\common files\symantec shared\virusDefs
3,in the right pane, locate the numbered folders.They will look something like this 20000713.068 20010118.008 etc
4,Delete each one.DO NOT Delete any of the other folders!!
5,close windows explorer
6,click start,point to search,and then click files or folders
7,make sure that look is set to (C

8,in the "search for files or folders named" box type or copy and paste the following, and then click search now
livetri.zip settings.liveupdate
9,Delete any files that are found!!
10, now run liveUpdate to download new virus definitions

if you follow the steps you should have norton up and running again!

Well I've tried that and although NAV definitions do install, but they do not seem to install, as a subsequent LiveUpdate causes it to download them agin.

Also, my NAV window has changed as well. When I click to see the contents of the quarantine, it says it cannot find the quarantine. When I click to see the date of the NAV definitions, it says it cannot find them and that they may have been corrupted, even after a manual application from the Symantec website and download on LiveUpdate

EDIT - forgot the attachment. D'oh!

DES_1001 · 16-11-2003, 21:49

another alternative is to uninstall norton, then reinstall with a different path/folder ie NAV1, then try updating the defs again!

Shaun · 16-11-2003, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoggyspuds

I have heard that if you uninstall and then reinstall norton, it won't work or has difficulties working because of files or registry settings left behind from the uninstall process and that the only wat around it was to format the h/d and start again. Drastic I know.

Symantec do have a tool on their website to clear your computer of any keys and stuff left over, but I cant seem to find the link right now.

To be honest I run 2003 and have only had one episode of this in the past but I just restored back a ghost of my C: partition from a backup I took the week before.

I have read about this on Symantec's website and IIRC it was a virus that causes it (it was 8ish months ago so I could be remembering wrong). I think a reinstall is gonna be your only option I'm afraid.

DES_1001 · 16-11-2003, 22:51

from your screen shot i notice that you also had a virus 14 days ago! was this the time that norton started to play up? also if you type in to symantecs web site on the support page (unable to initialize the virus scanning engine database files) there are a lot of topics which can help

ntl customer · 17-11-2003, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by DES_1001

from your screen shot i notice that you also had a virus 14 days ago! was this the time that norton started to play up? also if you type in to symantecs web site on the support page (unable to initialize the virus scanning engine database files) there are a lot of topics which can help

Just to update you on the situation, I decided to manually deinstall Norton Antivirus with the aid of an article from the Symantec support site. After a reboot, NAV reinstalled successfully and is now not having any problems - yet!

Touch wood that nothing else happens

17-11-2003, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntl customer

Just to update you on the situation, I decided to manually deinstall Norton Antivirus with the aid of an article from the Symantec support site. After a reboot, NAV reinstalled successfully and is now not having any problems - yet!

Touch wood that nothing else happens

thanks for letting us know - glad you got it sorted