Lost %USERPROFILE%\recent

This is a problem made apparent by Norton SystemWorks 2005 Premier. All of a sudden, on 7/1, I started receiving messages from NAV that it's license had expired. Added to this problem, I started getting messages that SystemWorks Trial Period had Expired and to fix them I needed to Activate the products. I had bought NSW which included NAV in 3/2005 and the subscription was good for one year. That is the setup for this problem.

After contacting Symantec, they indicated this stuff happened from time to time -- thinking it was probably a bad file. So they directed me to their website and instructed me to download file SymKBFix3.exe to my desktop and run it which should have fixed the problem. It didn't, when I ran the file, an Install Wizard started but I immediately got the following error -- 'ERROR 1606. Could not access network location %USERPROFILE%\recent\'.

They ask me to execute the file from the Symantec website, I did and got the same results.

They then ask me to verify the registry contents of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Currentversion\Explorer\User Shell Folders... everything there was correct but %USERPROFILE%\recent was missing. Which they had no answer for why is was missing.

They then ask me to UNINSTALL NSW 2005 using Add/Remove Software in the Control Panel then reinstall it... the uninstall failed with the same message -- 'ERROR 1606. Could not access network location %USERPROFILE%\recent\'.

So here I am with an Antivirus software that will not work because it incorrectly thinks it has expired and I also can't uninstall it. All other software seems be working fine.

Right off the bat, It appears that my registry has been damaged, at least the '%USERPROFILE%\recent\' entry.

I tried doing a few SYSTEM Restores with no success. Does anyone know how I can get back that registry entry -- %USERPROFILE%\recent\'? And how I can uninstall NSW?

Thanks for the help, I need to get an AV program running as fast as I can.

 

hi i had the same error and it was really bugging me.
so when i found the answer to the problem i sent this forum. My forum

i hope it helps. any more questions just ask.

UKARMYCADET

 

Thanks for the reply UKARMY. I checked out the two registry subkeys that were discussed in the Microsoft document you point out. And I have a question...

On the problem I was having with Norton they kept pointing me to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE....User Shell Folders to find %USERPROFILE%\Recent and it wasn't there. From the Microsoft document it appears that it should be in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER....User Shell Folders. Maybe the Norton people are just a bit unsure themselves?

Here is the question... my HKEY_CURRENT_USER...User Shell Folders entry for %USERPROFILE%\Recent has a type of REG_SZ instead of REG_EXPAND_SZ as it should be according to the Microsoft document. Should I change this? How do I change it? All other subkeys are as indicated in the Microsoft document.

 

Disable Norton Av until you get your problem sorted out.

In the meantime try

AVG http://www.majorgeeks.com/ download886.html

or

Avast download http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1968.html

Both are free, I prefer Avast. Make your choice and use that as your net protection.

Norton is a bear to uninstall and there are those who can provide a link to help uninstall it.

Bazza

 

you should change it so they all read REG_EXPAND_SZ you do this by. deleteing the current "RECENT" entery (RIGHT CLICK AND THEN CLICK DELETE). then where there is a blank space. right click, click new then click EXPANDABLE STRING VALUE. then name it Recent. easy as that.

if you have others that say REG_SZ do the same as the recent one. but name it as according.

if it does not work ask again and i will try to help.

UKARMYCADET

 

While trying to get the registry problems fixed, I post the following post and removed all of my Norton stuff using SymNRT... seemed to has worked great.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=64513&highlight=SymNRT

Bazza, I do plan to use another AV product now and I have heared about the ones you have mentioned many times on the MG boards -- I am sure I will go in their direction as soon as I get the registry problem fixed.

UKARMY.. will do as you have suggested but I first need to figure out how to get a registry backup just in case I screw things up.

Is there any good registry software, I can get to help resolve this type of reqistry problem and other registry problems?

 

i am not sure have a there is a registary section on the main major geeks website registary on majorgeeks or if you find nothing look on google and see.

it should not screw it up what i said. but it is best to be safe.

cya UKARMYCADET

 

As with all norton stuff, download the removal tool and use that to uninstall the thing. It will remove the corrupt registry entry. The trade off is the reload, the security updates will require multiple reboots to get the security updates in order.

 

I don't think there is any need to wait until your registry problem is sorted, unless your PC is not working at all. Download and install both AV programs, but only run 1 at a time when on the Net. Use the other when offline as a second opinion. Bazza

===

 

Google link to avast.

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=20&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=anti+virus&as_oq=avast&as_eq=&lr=lang_en&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images
First 2 links are to avast.com. There should be a "FAQ" or a "contact us" link there, if no-one from MG answers your question. I just run it, trust it, and let it do its' thing. Bazza

 

Thanks for the info Bazza.

UKARMY, I appreciate the info on altering the registry sub-keys. Since I removed my Norton stuff using SymNRT I am not having any problems installing or uninstalling software (as I cross my fingers). So I don't think I will make any registry changes (also not changing the registry because that kind of stuff is scary to me ). I will remember what you have told me in case I run into a problem in the future --- Thanks.

Also, Thanks to Halo, Mushroom and others if I didn't mention their names.

 

I knew it, I just knew, it happens everytime I make a comment like I did above, "...I am not having any problems installing or uninstalling software". Actually I had installed a few items and uninstalled one item with no problem --- THEN TODAY... I needed to upgrade my HP printer software and the first step was to uninstall the current software, HELLO ERROR 1606.

So, just to let you know UKARMYCADET, I changed the registry exactly as you suggested and the problem disappered -- I hope forever. Your instructions were right on and I had no problems.

Thanks from a reluctant WWALKER555

 

thank you im im pleased that my suggestion worked. as it is the first suggestion i have sent.

cya UKARMYCADET

P.S if it didnt work for me i would not have sent it but no problems