Problem

Installing Symantec Endpoint Encyption (SEE) on systems that have the Virtual PC Health Check installed may cause the system to stop booting.

Products

Symantec Endpoint Encryption and Windows 7 with Virtual PC Health Check

Issue

When you try and boot the system you will be presented with the "Press F3 for Virtual PC Check". During a normal boot, you would ignore this message and let it timeout. However with Symantec Endpoint Encryption installed after the message has timed-out, it will simply re-appear and the boot process will not continue.

If you press F3 you will get a message that says "NF" and the system will not proceed any further.

Root Cause

Installing Symantec Endpoint Encryption on a system that has the Virtual PC Health Check installed. Virtual PC Health Check uses boot code that doesnt work when the partition layout is changed by programs such as Symantec Endpoint Encryption.

Resolution

1. If you are deploying an Operating System image, use the option in your disk imaging software to remove Virtual PC Health check by deleting the entire contents of the hard drive (for example, use the DISKPART CLEAN command).

2. If you are not deploying an image, or if you are already at the point where the system cannot boot, you will need to use the recovery process below:

Stage 1 - Boot from the Windows 7 DVD

• Turn the system on
• Access the BIOS boot menu (this is normally F10 on Intel desktop based systems, the system will display what the correct key is to access the boot menu on the splash screen)
• Put the Windows 7 Installation disk in the DVD Drive
• Wait for around 10 seconds to allow the drive to read the disk
• Select the DVD Drive as the boot device.
• Press a key when you are prompted (this stops the system booting from the hard drive)

Stage 2 - Start the Recovery Command Prompt

• When prompted, select the language and keyboard or input settings, or any other localisation settings when requested.
• Click Repair your computer.
• Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
• In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.

Stage 3 - Repair the Master Boot Record (MBR)

• At the command prompt, enter the following command: Bootrec /fixmbr
• Press enter.
• Restart the machine.

This will have now stopped Virtual PC Health Check from running as the Master Boot Record (MBR) will have been replaced. This should allow the system to complete booting while Symantec Endpoint Encryption is installed.

 Applies to:

• PC or Notebook systems with Virtual PC Health Check pre-installed by Stone Computers