My brother has just purchased NIS 2005 via onine download from Symantec and we are having excessive problems getting it installed. The install currently stops with a message that "... cannot find the file "instopts.dat". Installer will quit now." Yet, when I do a search I indeed find the file in the Windows\temp directory.
So far, the summary of our efforts is as follows:
Performed a virus removal with another computer connected.
Removed all adware, spy catchers, virus protectors, etc. via the Windows Add/Remove Programs feature.
Performed all "before you install" sequences per Symantec instructions.
Removed the file via windows Add/Remove Programs function.
Reinstalled. Repeated above multiple times, each time getting to a different stopping point!
Removed all traces of the software (we think) from directories, temp files, and registry - by manually removing each registry entry containing Norton or Symantec (that's a bunch)!
Re-downloaded install file and re-installed.
Most recently I downloaded the file "nav200598_reg_removal.reg" from the Symantec site (thanks to a thread I read here). I ran this thinking it would clean the registry. I also went through the procedures provided by Symantec to removal of NIS from Win 98, followed by the procedure "Reinstalling your Symantec program after a failed installation..."
Currently, we are able to consistently get the same error message and stopping point. Nothing seems to get us past this point.
Can anyone recommend what can be done next? Have I removed a registry entry in error?
I am ready to demand a refund and buy McAfee, but will give Norton one last chance!
Thanks.
