Norton anti virus

waynezo · March 4th, 2003, 04:51 PM

On my system, pentium 233 win 98, I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling NAV several times but I get this message,white text on a black screen before OS will load.

cannot find a device file that may be needed to run windows or a win app
the windows registry or SYSTEM.INI file refers to this device file, but the device file no longer exists.....try uninstalling...reinstalling.....

C:\progra~1\symantec\symevnt.386

press a key to continue

After I press enter key os loads.
How do I fix or remove this file?

**EvilRick** · March 4th, 2003, 04:58 PM

You best bet would be to go into the registry and do a search for "symevnt.386" and delete the key.

If you wanna just do the search and then post back what you find, we'll help you remove it.

pickel · March 4th, 2003, 08:53 PM

I've had this problem with NAV and the only way I was able to re-install and get it to work was to go into the registry and delete any and all references to NAV or Symantec. Took quite a while and you have to careful. But finally got it to work.

waynezo · March 4th, 2003, 09:41 PM

I ran regedit and did a search. the only thing I could find was a folder labeled .386 and a folder named symantec. Was afraid to delete since i don't know how to edit the registry. I don't want to put NAV back on.

rpertusio · March 5th, 2003, 02:43 PM

Something to try:
Open Notepad
Choose File -> Open...
Open C:\autoexec.bat

If you see any lines referring to the Symantec file, add the word "REM " (no quotes) at the front of the line. That 'disables' that particular line from running.

If you make changes, save them.

Also open/check/REM any lines that refer to symantec in the file: C:\config.sys

Lastly, check C:\Windows\System.ini for a line referring to symevnt.386. If you find it, delete it.

In most issues I've dealt with Norton and Win98, the offending line has been found in the three files mentioned above.

If you didnt find the "symevnt.386" reference in the registry, then you probably dont want to mess around in there. (Your efforts might be fruitless.)

Lastly, you might want to just re-install NAV, and then uninstall it (restarting when it prompts you to.)

- rp