My anti-Norton virus definition subscription ran out today.  A friend
told me to reinstall it from the CD I have. In order to reinstall, I
was instructed to first uninstall Norton.  I have tried various ways
to delete it and each time I get the following message: Error 1324. 
The folder path "My Documents" contains an invalid character. When I
try to install Norton anti-virus again, I get the same message: Error
1324.  When I go into Window Explorer and click on Remove/Add, I get
the same message: Error 1324. I am on a PC Windows Milleneum.  Now
when I go on to my Outlook Express, I get a message: Norton Antivirus
was unable to scan your email for viruses. Question: How can I get out
of this loop?

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Clarification of Question by ajanta-ga on 07 Dec 2002 09:28 PST

Denco is right, and I followed the link to Microsoft but then I get
totally lost.  So I now have Norton-anti virus 2003, tried to install
it, come up
against the same message:  Error 1324. I thought I could just avoid
the whole
problem by getting the 2003 but apparently not.  Am I stuck forever
here?
I think this is still the same question but if not let me know and I
will
consider whether I can up the ante.

---

Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 08 Dec 2002 21:43 PST

You question is very interesting to answer, though I feel it would
require effort that is a bit above $10. Are you willing to raise your
price for this question? Thanks.

This won't help you out of your loop, but is useful to know for the
future:

Norton knows when your definition subscription has run out by looking
at your system date.

Some things to try:

From the Symantec (www.symantec.com) website:

Error: "Error 1324: The [folder path] folder name contains an invalid
character" during installation or uninstallation

Situation:
While installing or uninstalling Norton Internet Security or Norton
Personal Firewall you see the error message "Error 1324: The [folder
path] folder name contains an invalid character."

Solution:
This may happen if you have User Profiles enabled and your profile
contains a slash (/) character in the name (for example, Sam/Jones).
This is an indication that your user profile may be corrupt.

Login with a different User Profile and then install or uninstall the
program. Or disable User Profiles and then install or uninstall the
program.

...

Situation:
While installing or uninstalling your Symantec software, you see the
error message "Error 1324: The <path> folder name contains an invalid
character."

Solution:
The is more than one possible cause for this error:

The paths of values in these keys point to an invalid folder or paths:

HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders
HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders

User profiles are enabled.
The program "Windows on Wallstreet" installed.
You are installing to an invalid destination folder.
The Windows registry contains invalid characters.
The computer is using a real mode (16-bit) driver to access the CD-ROM
drive.
The Microsoft Windows Installer file is damaged or is not installed
correctly.
The computer has insufficient hard disk space.
Your profile contains a slash (/) character in the name (for example,
Jones/Smith).
The CPU does not meet the minimum system requirements to run the
program.
You are running Windows NT/2000/XP with NTFS. Either Win31FileSystem
or NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation is set to some value other than 0 in
the registry.

In all cases, this is a problem with the Microsoft Windows operating
system or the configuration of the computer. It is not a result of
problems with Symantec software.

To correct this problem, please contact Microsoft or your computer
manufacturer.

For your convenience, at the end of this document, we have provided
links to several relevant Microsoft Knowledge Base articles on this
subject.

Go to the following for the Microsoft links:

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2003071010370939


A Microsoft link:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q325069&


For more, go to: http://www.symantec.com/search/

and put in (quotes should be included): "Error 1324"

I think Denco probably has the answer for you. Here's some things to
keep in mind:

a) uninstalling and reinstalling Norton Antivirus will NOT give you
another year of virus subscriptions. When you gave finished
reinstalling the software, the subscription will still show as having
expired today.

b) While the rules for Google Answers would prevent me from telling
you if there was a way around this, I can tell you that even if there
were, it would actuall be illegal and would be a violation of the
EULA.

c) A 1-year renewal costs $14.95 US from Symantec. You can access the
renewal order form by running Liveupdate, once you have NAC
reinstalled

Howdy ajanta...

Did you get through the following?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q325069&

Click Start, click Run, type regedit32 [you might have to type in
regedit without the 32 - denco] in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
Locate and click the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

If either Win31FileSystem or NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation entries are
set to some value other than 0 (zero), double-click the entry, change
the value to 0, and then click OK.

Quit Registry Editor.


If you coud specify where you got lost, maybe I (or someone else)
can clarify, etc.

Denco,
You are patient.  Yes I got on to http: etc....ending with 69& but
once I got
there--there were many choices, too many. At that point am I supposed
to go into START as you wrote in your instructions?  Background for
you:
I am on a Windows ME, I now have the NAV 2003, I can't install it over
the NAV 2002, i still get the error message 1324.  I see that this
error message is quite common.  Your instructions seem quite radical. 
Like
an operation on my computer. Fear arises.  I will wait till Monday
evening.
I have to travel. Meanwhile, thanks again for your patience, and let
me know whether your instructions mean that I should get out of the
Microsoft site and go to START.
anti Virus 2003

Actually, there really is the way to get around one year subscription
limitation. But as someone already told you, it wouldn't be
appropriate to talk about this here. But if you just want to reinstall
Norton Antivirus, then I think the best possible solution would be to
get yourself a good registry clean-up tool, clean up registry with
it,delete all Norton Antivirus folders in DOS mode (boot from
diskette), then reinstall Norton Antivirus, fully update it (not virus
defs, but the rest of updates), close all other programs and then try
uninstalling it again. I think the best thing to do after you'll take
care of this problem with Norton Antivirus would be to buy Norton
System Works package (a complete package from Symantec which consists
of registry repair programs, disk tools, antivirus...).

Best regards,
Anže Švajger

Howdy ajanta,; apologies on the delay...

No problem, and as long as you take each step
carefully, you should have no problem.  Keep
in mind that this is one of several suggested
ways of clearing you problem, that is, it might
not work...

First, print out the following so you have it
as a reference.  Then get offline (disconnect
from the Internet as you usually do...) and:

Click Start

Click Run

Type regedit32 [you might have to type in regedit by itself - denco]
in the Open box, and then press ENTER.

Locate and click the following key in the registry:

[you will have a display that has all sorts of entries with plus signs
and you will click on the plus signs (they will turn into minus signs)
until you find the area that needs to be modified - denco]
 
click on the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
click on the plus sign next to SYSTEM
click on the plus sign next to CurrentControlSet
click on the plus sign next to Control
click on the folder marked FileSystem

[In the right panel there will be several entries, and they will have
a number (0) or (some other number) in parentheses at the very end -
that is the number that we are interested in... - denco]
 
If either Win31FileSystem or NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation entries are
set to some value other than 0 (zero), double-click the entry, change
the value to 0, and then click OK.
 
Quit Registry Editor. [click on the X in the upperright hand corner]

This will either cure the problem or not, but seems the most advised
procedure to fix your problem.

Symantec has a program named symcln.exe, which can be used to clean
out registry entries that have remained after the uninstalation of a
Symantec product. Do a search for it on the Symantec website, it can
be downloaded there. It has worked for me on one occasion, however, it
has also not been able to do anything on several others.

Denco
Followed your instructions.  When I got to HKEY_Local_Machine, System
did
not follow, there is a System Certificates (but that didn't look like
what
you meant.)  Let me know whether I should go on down the list???
Meanwhile, a friend's brother sent me Rnav2003.exe which I downloaded.
Then I tried to install Norton 2003 anti-virus (setup.exe). I get the
same old message: Preparing to install, and then:  Error 1324.  The
Folder path "My documents" contains an invalid character.
 
I did a Search, putting in Norton anti-virus, found 4 icons under
Virus
Defs.  In folders : c:\Program
           Files\common
           Files\Symantec
           shared
      modifed 12/3/2001 
 
When I go to add/remove, there is no Nortion listed but there are two
Symantic products, one is regular, and the other updating Symantic. 
Incidently, the Live Update goes on continueously, with its icon of
a monitor with an antenna on top.
 
That's the final report right now. If you are running out of time and
patience, just let me know.  I understand.  I have no choice but to
keep trying.  Thanks

OK, you have to keep clicking (what is called
drilling down) on things; you are off to a good
start; try the process again:

Click Start 
Click Run 
Type regedit in the Open box
Click on OK 

Let's try something different at this point; if
there are any minus signs in the boxes in the left,
click on them until all you have showing in the
left hand windows is My Computer.

Then (this is the drilling down part) click on the
plus sign next to My Computer; you should have a
few (5 or so) entries under it at this point.

Click on the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Again, you should 5 or so entries under this, such
as HARDWARE and the desired SYSTEM entry.  If there
more things showing, just scroll down (the entries
should be in alphabetic order) until you find it, 
then click the plus sign in the box to the left of
the entry.

click on the plus sign next to SYSTEM

click on the plus sign next to CurrentControlSet

click on the plus sign next to Control

click on the folder marked FileSystem

[In the right panel there will be several entries, and they will have 
a number (0) or (some other number) in parentheses at the very end - 
that is the number that we are interested in... - denco] 
  
If either Win31FileSystem or NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation entries are 
set to some value other than 0 (zero), double-click the entry, change 
the value to 0, and then click OK. 
  
Quit Registry Editor. [click on the X in the upper right hand corner]

Thank you Denco for all your efforts.  It took many many many hours. 
Nothing worked. Finally, I got a consultant.  Guess what? It had nothing
to do with Norton.  It had to do with the fact that I use a zip drive
and should have inserted the disc when I was installing Norton. Go Know.
Happy Holiday.