Hi Guys,

I've been having problems in STARTUP.  The system takes unusually long to begin with, and then I get sporadic windows flashing every few seconds.  Finally several freeze.

The message is: SYMSNAPSERVICE is not available (or has not started)
Type NET HELPMSG 3521

The system continues to check the A drive every few seconds.


Any idea what's going on or how I can access that help msg?  I have Windows XP sp2


Thank you, as always.Please list all Norton/Symantec applications on that machine...one of them is the culprit here...I was thinking the same thing.

The only Symantec software I'm aware of is Norton Ghost.  However the problem seemed to crop up after performing an update on Spybot.  But I don't think that's a Symantec product.

BTW this problem doesn't occur every TIME.  I'd say ~50% of the time.OK let me rephrase:
What Norton programs were on that machine that you since have removed ? ?
I don't believe the file/service belongs to Ghost...SORRY, I'm at a loss to remember any.

I did a complete system reinstall 5 months ago - reformatting the C drive - but I don't recall INSTALLING any Norton stuff since then other than Ghost.

I could check the registry and see if there are any Norton remnants.  Or perhaps do a search on any files with 'sym' in them.

Sound reasonable?That'll work...i'll be here for awhile if not one of our other Experts will be along to dive in...
BTW what version of Ghost and does it include a Scheduler ? ?I INSTALLED Ghost 2-3 months ago but haven't used it.  The reason I had to reformat the C drive was a disastrous result from using another disk copying product.  It ruined both disks!  And this wasn't freeware - I paid for it.  (fortunately they gave me my money back)

Anyway, I have been nervous to run Ghost because of this.  My business is on this PC and that really worries me.

Nonetheless I just tried to run Ghost and it seems I have lost the shortcut connection.  I looked and executed the .exe file but nothing happened.

I also have a Symantec directory off Program Files that is filled with all sorts of files. 

I don't know whether to delete and reinstall Ghost or not.  Maybe I should just remove it for now.  And I don't believe I activated the scheduler.SymSnapService.exe is definitely Ghost file:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/SymSnapService-23429.html