I all my days of working with computers, I have never come across a problem such as this. Yesterday as I do annually, I did a fresh install of Windows and all my software on both my Laptop and Desktop. The Laptop installation went without a hitch, including installing my Norton IS 2010.
When it came to my desktop, Windows XP SP3 installed without a problem. I did all of the updates required by MS.
My next step was to load my Norton IS 2010. This is where the problem starts.
Step 1 After putting the disk in it immediately starts initializing.
Step 2 It says it is Downloading Updates of 74MB of files.
Step 3 After it downloads the 74MB it says that it is "Initializing" again and the Symantec logo is placed on my Desktop just like any other installation.
Step 4 EULA Screen pops up and it asks me to "Agree and Install".
Step 5 It then starts Initializing again until it reaches 100%
Step 6 It says it is installing Drives
Step 7 It says it is loading Services
Step 8 Then goes Black then it pops back up with the Blue Screen of Death with the following information:
"A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps.
Check to be sure you have adequate disk space. if a drives is identified in the Stop Message, disable the drive or check with the manufacturer fir driver updates. Try changing video adapters.
Check with your hardware vendor for any BIOS updates. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.
Technical Information:
*** Stop 0x0000007E (0xC0000005, 0xB0FCEFF6, 0xF78C6BB8, 0xF78C68B4)
*** SYMEFA.SYS - Address B0FCEFF6 base at B0FB3000, Date stamp 4b0b384b
Beginning dump of physical memory
Physical memory dump complete
Contact your systems Administrator or technical support group for further assistance."
To get out of this situation and get my system back to the start before I tried the installation I have to do the following.
Step 1 Turn the computer off then back on.
Step 2 Once Windows reboots Norton IS starts the whole process of immediately "Initializing" again.
Step 3 Norton IS then starts "Removing Files". It gets to 100% removing.
Step 4 A screen pops up that says "Install Did Not Finish" and a big Yellow button pops up that says "Restart Now"
Step 5 After clicking the "Restart Now" button, Window reboots, Norton IS install screen pops back up saying it is "Initializing" again. I have to quickly click the "Skip" button in the bottom left corner of the installation screen.
Step 6 Norton IS cycles through getting "Services" Then the Blue Screen of Death pops back up again. The only thing that is different on the Blue Screen this time is the Technical Information that now says:
"*** Stop 0x0000007E (0x0000005, 0x804F349E, 0xF78B6B94, OxF78B6890)
Step 7 I now turn the computer off and back on. After Windows reboots, a Norton IS Screen pops up saying it is "Initializing" again. Then a second Screen pops up that gives me two "Uninstall options."
One is "I plan to reinstall a Norton Product in the future. Please leave my settings behind."
The other is: "Please removed all uses data including my stored password and quarantine contents".
I choose the second option and then I am back to the starting point of where Norton IS off my computer.
On top of this, I even tried reinstalling Windows twice and reformatting my hard drive both times thinking there must be something hanging around somewhere. I still get the same results.
As I said, I installed Norton IS 2010 on my Laptop with NO Problem (Win 7, 64 Bit)
I also have it installed on another desktop in my office.
This computer I am having the problem with is an older PIII running Win XP SP3 with two hard drives (a 200MB C drive and 250MB D drive)
Any suggestions?