Cannot shutdown or restart computer or log off users after installing Norton AntiVirus 2003

Situation:

After you install Norton AntiVirus 2003 on your Windows XP computer you can no longer log off, shut down, or restart the computer. When you try, nothing happens and you are left at the desktop.

Solution:
This problem should be fixed by Symantec Common Client and Norton AntiVirus program updates. To install the updates, start Norton AntiVirus, run LiveUpdate, download all available updates, and then restart the computer if prompted. Repeat this procedure until you see the message "Thank you for using LiveUpdate. All of the Symantec products and components installed on your computer are currently up-to-date. Remember to check for new updates frequently." For more details on how to run LiveUpdate, see the document How to run LiveUpdate.

If downloading the program updates does not fix the problem, then go on the next section.

Uninstall and reinstall Norton AntiVirus, LiveUpdate and LiveReg
Do the following to uninstall and reinstall Norton AntiVirus and LiveUpdate and then run LiveUpdate again.

To uninstall Norton AntiVirus and all Symantec shared components

On the desktop, click Start > Programs or All Programs > Norton AntiVirus > Uninstall Norton AntiVirus 2003.
Click Remove, and then follow the on-screen prompts.
Click Yes or Yes to all as needed.
Restart the computer when prompted.
Click Start > Control Panel.
Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
Click LiveReg (Symantec Corporation).
Click Add/Remove, Change/Remove, or Remove (this varies with the operating system). Follow the prompts, and restart if prompted.
Repeat steps 5-8 for LiveUpdate (Symantec Corporation). Follow the prompts, and restart if prompted.

To delete the Norton AntiVirus and Symantec folders
Start Windows Explorer.
Navigate to and select the C:\Program Files\Symantec folder as shown here:

 

 

Press Delete, and then click Yes to confirm.

Navigate to and select the C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus folder.
Press Delete, and then click Yes to confirm.
Navigate to and select the C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared folder.
Press Delete, and then click Yes to confirm.
Exit Windows Explorer.

To clean boot the computer and reinstall Norton AntiVirus
Follow the instructions in the document How to reinstall Norton AntiVirus 2003 after you see error messages to clean boot the computer and reinstall Norton AntiVirus. After the program has been installed, restart the computer, run LiveUpdate and download all available updates and restart again when prompted. After Norton AntiVirus is installed successfully, follow the steps in the section To restore Windows to Normal mode in this document.

To do as a workaround if you want to log off as a user
Switch users and then shutdown the computer and restart as the new user.

 
Translations of this Document:
Given the time needed to translate documents into other languages, the translated versions of this document may vary in content if the English document was updated with new information during the translation process. The English document always contains the most up-to-date information.

Available translations:
Español

 
 Document ID:2003020610443906
Last Modified:03/29/2005

 

  
Does this document answer your question?
Yes
No
Maybe, need to test
None of the above
 Is this document well written and easy to use?
Submit specific suggestions to improve the quality of this document.

         
 
 

Product(s): Norton AntiVirus 2003
Operating System(s): Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional Edition
Date Created: 02/06/2003