Windows stalling at startup. I get this message...

Hello again,

I have been having a problem with restarting my computer lately. When ever it is restarting, before getting to the part where the desktop is reloaded, I get this message:

 

If you are using Norton products, try using LiveUpdate to update your symevnt file.

Also, try searching for the file. There should be 2 copies, one in:
C:\Program Files\Symantec\SYMEVNT.386

and another in:

C:\WINDOWS\System\SYMEVNT.386

If you have a copy in one of those locations, try copying it to the other.

[Was this exactly correct?

]

 

You get that errormessage because either system.ini or more likely the registry is trying to load a file that does not exist on your computer. The file has been present in C:\Program Files\Symantec\symevnt 386.
This means you at some point have had something like Norton Antivirus installed. (All Norton programs are made by Symantec)

First: check in the recycle bin if you child deleted a program using Windows Explorer, if he/she has restore the files, if nothing is in recycle bin then:

For checking system.ini, start msconfig from Start--> Run.
Search system.ini and remove the check if you find something related to the path you get in the error message.

What you have to do is starting regedit from Start --> Run.
Press Ctrl+B and search for symevnt. When you find it open Windows Explorer (without closing regedit) and check if the full path in regedit exist in Windows Explorer. If the path does not exist in Windows Explorer delete it in the RIGHT window in Regedit. Now press first F5 (refreshes regedit) then press F3 (continues search) every time you find something related to symevnt, check the path shown in regedit with Windows Explorer and delete in regedit if it does not exist in windows explorer.
When finished, shut down regedit and Windows Explorer and restart the computer.

Warning! When deleting something in the registry it is gone for ever! It can not be 'undone'. Therefore inside regedit first take a backup of all the keys you are about to delete. For doing so, mark what you like to delete, go to Registry (top-left in regedit) and choose Export. Give the file a name (.reg is automaticly added) and save the file(s) somewhere where you can easily find them.
After you have found and backed up all keys you like to delete, start all over with searching the registry, this time deleting the keys you have backed up.

Do NOT backup one key at a time, delete it, search for new key, back it up, delete it and so on. This is because a lot of keys are present twice in the registry but deleting the first occurance will automaticly delete the second occurance!

 

For checking system.ini, start msconfig from Start--> Run.

You can also edit the System.ini by typing SYSEDIT at the start~run line. A little easier.


BillyBob

 

Just as easy, ...

Do Start > Run > System.ini

 

Edited out! Changed my mind.

I had a cutNpaste from symantec on this but, on second thought, their instructions weren't beginner user friendly.

Sorry about the trigger finger on the reply button. It seems to work faster than my coffee deprived brain.

============
I would like to add that if you have not unistalled Norton and the replacement of the symevt file has been done, please make sure your Norton is functioning as it should be. Give it run through.

 

Thanks to all who replied! I appreciate it.

I used to have Norton on my PC. I don't have it anymore. Can I just go ahead as this message suggested in part and uninstall the associated application? And if so where should I be able to find the associated application to uninstall it?

Norton was uninstalled from the add and remove programs area in my control panel. I thought that every thing connected to it was gone.

How can I get rid of the rest of this so that I can have my computer start up without this pause?

I do not want to put Norton back on. I'm now using something else.


Thanks.

 

You have already uninstalled the associated application, and it was a bad uninstall. Symnatec is another name for Norton.
This is what you need to do, go to Start\Run and type in Regedit and press Enter.
Now you will be looking at a program with two panes in it. In the left pane, click on the + signs until you find this Key [folder]. You will see a bunch so look carefully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SharedDLLs

Now look to the right pane, you will see a line with "C:\Program Files\Symantec\symevnt 386" in it. Right click on that line and only that line and select Delete.
When you reboot, the message will be gone.

 

Hi Mark,

thank you for the reply. I did just as you instructed here, but when I finally got to the shared dlls part, the right hand side doesn't show the file "C:\Program Files\Symantec\symevnt 386" in it. All I see is a bunch of stuff that reads like this;

C:\Program Fil....0x00000000(5)
C:\Program Fil....0x00000000(1)

and on and on like that..... the Symantec file is no where to be seen there.


What should I do now?


Also, on a quick side not, I see in there the names of stuff I don't have on my computer anymore. Some things that have been gone a loooooooong time ago. Does the fact that the names of those things still exist there load down my system in any way?

 

try this.
go to my computer, c drive, windows, program files,
in there you will find a folder for norton open it and find an icon for uninstall and click on it, you will either get------
cant find program it seems to be removed do you want to get rid of icon click yes,
or----- it will remove everything
if that doesnt work just delete the whole file for norton (as long as you dont have norton fire wall or norton whatever installed aswell because this will delete them as well)


Im sure there is someone else on this site who will ok this?
if the program is not used any more there is no need for the file. window will keep looking for it if parts of it are still in its system

 

sorry 'program files' might not be in 'windows file' it might just be in 'c drive' next to windows file somewhere. i run xp most of the time so its sometime hard to remember the layout of 98

 

If you are indeed refering to deleting a line from the Registry it may not stay gone if there is an entry for same in the System.ini.

I believe if my memory serves me correctly a reference to the file in question is in the System.ini. And will remain a problem until removed.

At least this has been the case with Norton and other products that did not do a good job of cleaning up after themselves.

That is far from the case. I have uninstalled Norton and then Regseeker still found about 50 entries in the Reg. In both 98 and XP.

BillyBob

 

I tried what stitch advised and nothing. Thanks for trying though stitch. I appreciate it.

Billy Bob with regard what you mentioned, what can I do? I'm still getting that annoying message and not moving forward.

 

with regard what you mentioned, what can I do?

Have you checked the System.ini and maybe even the Win.ini.

If you did and did not find a reference to the file then I am lost. At least for the time being.

Also try running SYSEDIT and having a look at the Autoexec.bat. I doubt it is coming from there but with Windows one never knows.

But the error that you posted originally points to the System.ini.

Try running Sysedit and doing a find for SYMANTEC in the system.ini.

BillyBob

 

Ok, sure, I'll try that, but how do I go about doing this?

Can you put it it terms that a dummy would understand please? I really don't know about these things too well if at all.


Ok, I'm sorry. I just read from the yop again and noticed that how to go about it is mentioned.

Thanks.

 

Ok, well, I did all that's suggested, Billybob's suggestion as well and nothing. I didn't find anything saying symantec or anything like that....

 

You were in the right place. Go back into Regedit, go back to that Key [folder]. Now look at the top of the right pane, you will see the words Name and Data there, with a thin vertical gray line. Put your mouse right on the thin vertical gray line and your mouse will change to a double arrow with a vertical line, press and hold the left mouse button down and and move the line over to the right.
While you are doing this, more of the "C:\Program Fil" will revealed.

 

Mark, I did it and saw the file or whatever it'll be called there, and I deleted it and then rebooted. Sad to say I got the same message....I can't believe it . I did also see three other Symantec files there.

 

You should have removed those also. Remember that Symnatec is another name used by Norton.

 

Ok, will do. Actually there are four more. I only just noticed another one named C:\Program Files\Symantec Shared\IRAABOUT.DLL.

I want to know if to delete this one also. As I saw the shared part I halted cause I don't know if that means that some other program is sharing it. Should I get rid of this as well?