I’m running Norton Security Suite v20.1 from Comcast on, on a Lenovo ThinkPad W530, using Windows 7 Professional 64-bit with Service Pack 1. I’m running Lenovo ThinkPad Fingerprint Software v5.9.7.7084 and Lenovo RapidBoot Shield v1.23
My problems started on January 10, 2013 after Live Update had run. I got a message on the screen that said Norton Error 8506,421. It tried to autofix itself, but couldn’t do it. I tried re-booting, but it wouldn’t clear and NSS wouldn’t start manually. NSS was gone from the task tray (taskbar).
After thinking I fixed it using Solution below, the next day, I got Norton error 8504, 001, and NSS disappeared again from the task tray (taskbar).
Summary of my solution is next; details of my ordeal are below. I think Solution 1 will solve most problems. If Solution 2 doesn’t work, Solution 2 might do the job.
Solution 1
- Use Control Panel / Lenovo RapidBoot Shield and UN-check the button that says “Enable RapidBoot Shield?”
- Re-boot
- If you use the Fingerprint Reader, and it isn’t working, use Control Panel / Programs and Features, and click to Uninstall Lenovo Fingerprint Software. It should give you an option to Remove it or Repair it. Choose Repair it. If you don’t use the Fingerprint Reader, or if it’s working, go to step 5.
- Re-boot
- Test that NSS is up and running in the task tray (taskbar). Test your fingerprint reader, if applicable. Hopefully you’ll be up and running without messing with the registry, and without uninstalling anything. However, if Norton is still gone, consider Solution 2.
Solution 2
- Use Control Panel / Programs and Features to uninstall Norton Security Suite. Again, DO NOT use the Norton Uninstall–Reinstall Tool.
- Re-boot.
- Use Control Panel / Lenovo RapidBoot Shield and UN-check the button that says “Enable RapidBoot Shield?”
- Re-boot
- Logon to your Comcast Account and Install Norton Security Suite.
- Re-boot
- Run Live Update several times, re-booting in between each Live Update, until it says “No updates found”. If it tells you that it found a patch, and asks you if you want to install it, say Yes or Apply.
- If your Fingerprint Reader isn’t working, Use Control Panel / Programs and Features, and click to Uninstall Lenovo Fingerprint Software. It should give you an option to Remove it or Repair it. Choose Repair it.
- Re-boot and hopefully you’ll be back up and running without messing with the registry, and with only uninstalling and reinstalling NSS one time.
History of Ordeal
My problems started on January 10, 2013 after Live Update had run. I got a message on the screen that said Norton Error 8506,421. It tried to autofix itself, but couldn’t do it. I tried re-booting, but it wouldn’t clear and NSS wouldn’t start manually. NSS was gone from the task tray (taskbar). After thinking I fixed it, the next day, I got Norton error 8504, 001, and NSS disappeared again from the task tray (taskbar).
I tried the Norton Uninstall / Reinstall Tool. DO NOT USE THIS TOOL. It uninstalled NSS, but couldn’t reinstall it, apparently, because I use Norton for Comcast. I had to log onto my Comcast account and install NSS that way. It installed successfully, but I then discovered that my internal fingerprint reader was disabled. I’m speculating that the Norton Uninstall / Reinstall Tool corrupted registry entries relating to the fingerprint reader. I found some suggestions in the Norton community about uninstalling the fingerprint software and installing the newest version. When I went to uninstall the fingerprint software, it gave me the option to “repair”. I chose that option, and the finger print reader was back in business.
I ran several live updates to bring Norton by Comcast up to speed, and ran into more trouble. Everything in NSS got “Red” (disabled), and I got messages from NSS that my computer was at risk because I’d disabled Anti-virus and firewall. (I did not).
I used Control Panel / Programs and Features to Uninstall NSS. It worked fine, and my fingerprint reader was still working. I rebooted and reinstalled NSS from the Comcast Security Page. It went fine and ran well for about 24 hours. After Live Update ran, the Norton toolbar disappeared from Internet Explorer, and NSS was gone again from the task tray (taskbar). This time, the error message from Norton was different. It was an 8504, 001. It tried to auto-fix, but couldn’t. The auto-fix failure message mentioned something about uninstalling Lenovo RapidBoot, upgrading it, reinstalling it, and then reinstalling Norton. Instead, I used Control Panel / Lenovo RapidBoot Shield. I opened it, clicked disable, re-booted, and problems were solved. Boot time increased by 2 minutes, but I don’t care. Norton came back to life, I didn’t have to uninstall or reinstall anything, and I’ve been up and running for 18 hours. If I last through the week, I’ll consider the problem is solved. I use my ThinkPad as a desktop replacement and reboot it as infrequently as possible. Therefore, I’m willing to live without RapidBoot and have my boot time 2 minutes longer.
I think that RapidBoot makes you think your system is booting faster, by loading the fewest possible drivers before presenting you with the Welcome screen, and subsequently loading the rest of the drivers needed while you’re logging on and getting to your desktop. Apparently, Windows then loads and starts Norton before all of the required drivers or IP stacks needed by Norton are ready.
As to why you can’t manually start Norton after the system is completely up and running? – I don’t know –. It may be that once Norton fails to confirm that your license is properly activated, you can’t restart it until after a re-boot. Either way, RapidBoot is an illusion. If it’s important to you, you’ll have to join the battle of the titans and get Norton to play nice with RapidBoot, or get Lenovo to play nice with Norton. It’s not important to me, so I’m dropping the matter for now.