Question/Issue:
When you start the computer, you see an error message similar to "\ S32evnt1.dll. An installable Virtual Device Driver failed DLL initialization."


Solution:
To fix the problem, edit the registry and restart the computer. Then update the Symevent files and restart the computer again.

Follow the directions for your version of Windows:

To edit the Windows XP registry

1. On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Run.
2. In the Run dialog box, type regedit
3. Click OK.
4. Go to the following key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers
   
   
5. In the right pane, delete the VDD value.
6. In the left pane, right-click the VirtualDeviceDrivers key, and then click New > Multi-String Value.
7. Type VDD for the name of the new value.
8. Exit the Registry Editor.
9. Restart the computer.

1. On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Run.
2. In the Run dialog box, type regedt32
3. Click OK.
4. Go to the following key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\VirtualDeviceDrivers
   
   
5. In the right pane, delete the VDD value.
6. On the Edit menu, click Add Value.
7. In the Value Name box, type VDD.
8. In the Data Type drop-down menu, click REG_MULTI_SZ, and then click OK.
9. Exit the Registry Editor.
10. Restart the computer.

1. Follow the directions in the document Updating the Symevent files.
2. After you update the Symevent files, restart the computer.

Technical Information:
For more information about this problem, read the Microsoft Knowledge Base document Virtual Device Driver Error Message in 16-Bit MS-DOS Subsystem (254914).

Document ID: 2003092516423148
Last Modified: 12/28/2005
Date Created: 09/25/2003
Operating System(s): Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional Edition
Product(s): Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 10.0, Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.0, Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0, Symantec Client Security 3.0, Symantec AntiVirus 10.1, Symantec Client Security 3.1
Release(s): SAV 10.0 [All Releases], SAV 8.0 [All Releases], SAV 9.0 [All Releases], Symantec Client Security 3.x [All versions], Symantec AntiVirus 10.1, Symantec Client Security 3.1