Windows ME %1 %2 and Norton Error

I've installed Norton Antivirus 2004 on a Compaq running Windows ME, but it won't run when I click on it, even though it's let me run LiveUpdate. When I try to uninstall NAV 2004, I get the a message saying that a prwvious install or uninstall requires that I restart and run setup again. If I do that, I get the error message that Windows cannot upgrade the files %1 from %2. Help!

It appears that you are another victim of Symantec's poorly written malware.
Personally I feel you should return NAV2004 and demand your money back on the
grounds that the product isn't fit for the purpose for which you purchased it
and that you are yet another a victim of Symantec's false advertising.

Your %1 %2 problem.

First boot to DOS using a floppy and check whether you have a WININIT.INI
file in your C:\WINDOWS folder. If present rename it to something like
wininit.old and try booting again. It is also probable that you will have to
repeat the last software install or update that you made. See MS KB283069 -
"Error Message: (http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=283069).

If you can't find a wininit.ini file then I suspect your problem is due to the
C:\_RESTORE\TEMP folder having around 64K files in it which is the limit
(2**16) for the number of files that can be located in a folder using the
FAT32 filing system. This then results in the "Cannot upgrade file %1 from
%2.." message when booting. I suggest you try deleting the _RESTORE folder
with the loss of any system restore checkpoints you might have (not that I
think they are now usable) and see if that solves the problem. Delete the
folder as follows:
a) Boot to DOS using a floppy. Do NOT choose "Minimal Boot" from the menu
when booting from a floppy but rather choose "Start computer with (or without)
CD-ROM support" otherwise the ATTRIB command will not be available.
b) At the DOS A:\ prompt, type:

ATTRIB -H -S -R C:\_RESTORE
and then
REN C:\_RESTORE OLDREST

c) Remove the floppy
d) Reboot your PC

Another problem though is that the update you were doing was probably never
completed so your system may still be unusable. If however it does manage to
boot then
e) Delete the folder C:\OLDREST
f) Check that an automatic system restore checkpoint was created.
g) Finally adjust the space allocated to the restore folder:
System | Performance | File System | Hard Disk and adjust the restore slider
to your preferred setting. A figure of 200MB is normally more than adequate
for day to day use allowing perhaps a week of checkpoints to be available
although increasing this to perhaps 400MB for a few days during periods of
large installs such Microsoft Office is advisable.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



Trancelation wrote:

I've installed Norton Antivirus 2004 on a Compaq running Windows ME, but
it won't run when I click on it, even though it's let me run LiveUpdate.
When I try to uninstall NAV 2004, I get the a message saying that a
prwvious install or uninstall requires that I restart and run setup
again. If I do that, I get the error message that Windows cannot upgrade
the files %1 from %2. Help!

As much as I hate Symantec myself, I'm stuck: I'm a technician working in a PC repair shop, and the customer has already ordered and paid for NAV 2004. As for the WININIT.INI problem, I renamed it, but it looks like it was too late: it only let me run LiveUpdate, and NAV 2004 is still there. It's currently named WININIT.OLD, so would renaming it again help?

NAV2004 understood.

Are you saying the %1 %2 error is due to a recurring wininit.ini file rather
than the more usual cause, especially on systems where Symantec malware is
installed, of the C:\_RESTORE\TEMP folder having become filled with 2**16
files? If so then you need to find out what is causing a wininit.ini file to
be recreated each time you boot the system.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



Trancelation wrote:

As much as I hate Symantec myself, I'm stuck: I'm a technician working
in a PC repair shop, and the customer has already ordered and paid for
NAV 2004. As for the WININIT.INI problem, I renamed it, but it looks
like it was too late: it only let me run LiveUpdate, and NAV 2004 is
still there. It's currently named WININIT.OLD, so would renaming it
again help?