Pardon the OT, but damn, I hate Symantec and their extraordinarily
crappy uninstall routines!
We use their PGP Universal Server, and the Whole Disk Encryption (to
encrypt our laptop drives). And since we upgraded the server last week,
I can't upgrade my laptop client - I keep getting "Internal Error 2721.
Wise Startup" error. And while their Tech Support is trying, everything
is useless, to either re-install and fix it, or manually uninstall, so I
can then upgrade clean.
Today's turning point came when they had me decrypt my disks, and then
manually uninstall ... which consisted of me manually deleting files and
registry keys. Mind you, I had to do this in Safe Mode, since all files
were in use (it runs as a disk driver), and the instructions don't
mention that. That should have scared me off of doing it at all, but I
didn't. I just mentioned that to Tech Support, who said "Soldier on" ..
and continue on. And found out that the instructions don't take into
account running on 64 bit Windows (some files were in SysWOW64, not
System32 as specified). You'd think that would be enough to make me run
away screaming, but no. Dum-dum me went ahead, and deleted the registry
keys ... including the ones labeled "PGP" that were *not* mentioned in
the instructions (on Tech Support's advice).
Naturally, system wouldn't then boot (blue-screened with 7B,
"Inaccessible Boot Device"). Startup repair doesn't work (naturally!).
System Restore did (thankfully), so I can at least boot again.
Now, I have a half-installed PGP product, that can't be uninstalled,
re-installed, or upgraded. And non-encrypted disks.
I shoulda just decline the client updates until I get issued a new
laptop in 2 years, at the next hardware refresh ...
I mean, really, even I could see that those instructions were incomplete
and crappy, and lead to no good. What must it be like for "normal" end
users?
<SIGH>
Sorry. Tech Support was very nice, and apologetic ... and completely
useless to resolve my problem, which is now worse than it was.
I can remember when they had a special batch file you had to download
and run, to clean up after uninstalling Symantec Antivirus way back
when, around version 8 or 9. The fact that they needed a special
routine, to clean up after their other routine, is telling ...
Sorry for the rant. Please, continue about your business ... nothing to
see here ....
~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~
~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
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