Error: "Please uninstall the previous version before proceeding with the Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange installation." when you install Symantec Mail Security 6.x for Microsoft Exchange

Products

• Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange

Issue/Introduction

You try to install Symantec Mail Security 6.x for Microsoft Exchange. During the process, the installation stops and you see the following error message:

"Please uninstall the previous version before proceeding with the Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange installation."

Resolution

This message appears because the installation process detected that a previous version of the product is installed on the computer.

To fix the problem, uninstall any previous versions of the software before you install the program.

To remove previous versions of Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange

1. On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
3. Remove versions of the following programs:
   • Norton AntiVirus for Microsoft Exchange
   • Symantec AntiVirus/Filtering for Microsoft Exchange
4. Exit Add/Remove Programs.
5. Exit Control Panel.

Install Symantec Mail Security 6.x for Microsoft Exchange. The installation process should complete successfully.


If the problem occurs again, complete the following instructions to remove registry keys that were not removed during uninstallation of the previous version.

To remove registry keys that were not removed during uninstallation of the previous version:

1. Go to Start > Run and type services.msc to open the Services console.
2. Stop the service Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange.
(Note: This service may not exist, if it does not, you may continue to Step 3.)

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Warning: In the next steps you will edit the Windows registry. Back up the registry before you make any changes to it, because incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify only the registry keys that are specified. For instructions, see How to back up the Windows registry.

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3. Go to Start > Run and type regedit to open your registry window.
4. Remove any of the following registry keys before you rerun the installation process:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec\NAVMSE\
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec\SAVFMSE\
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec\SMSMSE\

Technical Information
The installation process checks for the presence of the following registry keys. If it finds any of these keys, the process aborts and displays the error message:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec\NAVMSE\1.0\Server
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec\NAVMSE\1.5\Server
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec\NAVMSE\2.0\Server
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec\NAVMSE\2.1\Server
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec\NAVMSE\2.5\Server
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec\SAVFMSE\3.0\Server

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Please Note: For referece a similar entry will be present in the VOICEWARMUP log: (Shown Below)

Action start 16:28:26: fnCheckForPreviousVersion.
MSI (c) (94:58) [16:28:26:328]: Invoking remote custom action. DLL: d:\Temp\MSIFA.tmp, Entrypoint: fnCheckForPreviousVersion
-- SAVFMSEInst.dll MSI_Logging -- fnCheckForPreviousVersion
-- SAVFMSEInst.dll MSI_Logging -- DisplayMessageBox
-- SAVFMSEInst.dll MSI_Logging -- A previous version of Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange has been detected.
Please uninstall the previous version before proceeding with
the Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange installation.
Action ended 16:28:30: fnCheckForPreviousVersion. Return value 2.