Question/Issue:
When you install Symantec AntiVirus client, you see the error message "Error 1920: Service Symantec AntiVirus Server (Symantec AntiVirus Server) failed to start. Verify that you have sufficient privileges to start system services." The installation then fails and rolls back.


Solution:
This problem has more than one cause, so more than one solution is provided. To fix the problem, try each of the following solutions in the order that they appear.

• Confirm that you have the correct rights and permissions to perform the installation.
  For directions, read Troubleshooting Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition installations: Checking rights and permissions.
• Make sure that the Event Log service is started on the target computer.
• Confirm that the computer's date is correct and that the year is not set far into the future (such as 2059).
• Update the Symevent files. For directions, read Updating the Symevent files.
• Make sure that the computer is not infected with a virus. Even if you do not have a previous version of Symantec AntiVirus installed, you can run an online scan. The online scan detects known viruses and security risks, but it cannot remove them.
  To run a full online scan, go the Symantec Security Check Web site and follow the prompts.
  Note that the online scan is not supported on server operating systems. For server operating systems, use the document Common loading points for viruses, worms, and Trojan horse programs on Windows NT/2000/XP/2003.
• If a previous version of Symantec or Norton AntiVirus is installed, uninstall the program by using Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. Then, manually remove any leftover files and registry keys.
  To find directions for your product version, read Manual uninstallation documents for Symantec Client Security products.
• If you use Windows 2003, follow the directions in the Microsoft document Error 0x80092026: The cryptographic operation failed due to a local security option setting (article ID 555374).
• If you use the eToken Runtime Environment (RTE), upgrade to version 3.65 or later.

References:
Additional documents that may be useful

• Installation of Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition rolls back when the status bar displays "Preparing Virus Definition Files"
• Error: "1920 Service Defwatch failed to start. Verify that you have sufficient privileges to start system services."

Document ID: 2001071809250248
Last Modified: 07/20/2009
Date Created: 07/18/2001
Operating System(s): Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 32-bit Edition, Windows NT 4.0, Windows XP
Product(s): Symantec AntiVirus 10.1, Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 10.0, Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.0, Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 9.0, Symantec Client Security 3.0, Symantec Client Security 3.1
Release(s): SAV 10.0, SAV 10.0 [All Releases], SAV 8.0, SAV 8.0 [All Releases], SAV 8.01, SAV 9.0, SAV 9.0 [All Releases], Symantec AntiVirus 10.1, Symantec AntiVirus 10.1 [All Releases], Symantec AntiVirus for Linux 1.0, Symantec AntiVirus for Linux [All Releases], Symantec Client Security 3.0, Symantec Client Security 3.1, Symantec Client Security 3.1 [All Releases], Symantec Client Security 3.x [All versions]