Symantec's revenge

I walked away from Symantec a long time ago. I no longer want any of their software on my computer or those of my clients. It's a long story.

A few months ago, I set up a new X series Thinkpad for a client and one of the first things I did was remove the pre-installed trial version of Norton Antivirus. I thought I was done with Symantec on that machine, but no.

After a couple months, the computer owner experienced a problem with a Symantec DLL that prevented them from running an important application. Yes, a Symantec DLL, specifically S32evnt1.dll, which wasn't even on the computer. It's not clear why Windows was trying to use this DLL (it may be because the application was an old 16-bit one rather than the more normal 32-bit), but the root cause was an incomplete un-install of Norton Antivirus.

In the Windows world, many programs leave files behind after they are un-installed. Symantec had so many such problems they long ago created a Norton Removal Tool which "... uninstalls all Norton 2008/2007/2006/2005/2004/2003 products and Norton 360 from your computer." From now on, after removing Symantec software, I'll always run the Norton Removal Tool, just for good luck.

Fortunately for me, others have experienced problems with file S32evnt1.dll before. Symantec has an item about it on their web site (Error: S32evnt1.dll. An installable Virtual Device Driver failed DLL initialization) which doesn't say anything about how or why the problem occurs, but does have instructions for zapping the registry to fix the problem. They fail, however, to warn you about backing up the registry before modifying it. Still, the instructions, confirmed by a related Microsoft Knowledge Base article, did fix the problem.

A word to the wise.

Update. April 9, 2008: I just ran across this recent Stephen Manes column on his experience with Symantec tech support: When Companies Outsource Support...To Mars! The tech help I got from Symantec: So bad it was downright unearthly.

See a summary of all my Defensive Computing postings.

[john55440]

I use Norton Internet Security 2008, a PC Magazine Editor's Choice, and have no complaints. In it's default configuration, it's a nonchatty program that just sits in the background and does it's thing. As for performance, I use it on a 2002 computer with only 512MB of memory.

And yes, I use Norton Removal Tool before upgrading versions. They should improve their uninstall routine so that NRT isn't necessary.

[DrollTroll]

It will continu to be a long story that will become even longer as long as you (and any clients you advise) stick with Windows--thats the long and the short of it.

[kevin-j]

Norton Removal Tool has been around for a while (3-4 years?). Leaving those files behind after uninstalling is the right choice. Symantec use it to prevent pirated version of the Norton products. We all know Norton Antivirus is the system hog. But not 2008 version. I am still using 90 days trial version of NIS 2008.

http://www.virtela.com

[dahicke]

AVOID Symantec and Norton. Symantec has resorted to make virus-ware products that do not uninstall and are difficult to remove. I would recommend avoiding their products at all costs. They have become an Unethical company. I would not be surprised if they are not creating and distributing viruses, worms, Trojan horses etc. to bolster their own business. Their Norton Security Scan is one of these virus-ware products that is hard get off a computer. I have tried un-installing 4 times and it re-installs itself at logon.