Error: "Cannot read subscription Data. You may need Administrative Privileges"

Error: "Cannot read subscription Data. You may need Administrative Privileges"

Situation:
You are using Windows XP Professional edition. You see the message "Cannot read subscription Data. You may need Administrative Privileges." The message may be displayed without any action on your part.


Solution:
This message may be displayed when Automatic LiveUpdate runs. This can happen if the permissions are not set properly for the Symantec folder.

Follow the instructions for your operating system.

Windows XP Professional

NOTE: You must log in as Administrator to do this.


1. Click on Start, then click on My Computer.
2. Navigate to the following folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data

3. In the right pane, right-click the Symantec folder and then click Properties.
4. Click the Security Tab.

NOTE: If there is no Security tab, close the Properties dialog box and skip to the Missing Security tab section.

5. Locate your user name in the Group or User Name section and select it.



6. In the Permissions for Users section, in the Allow column, select Full Control.



7. Click Apply and OK.

Missing Security tab
If the Security tab is missing, follow these steps. You must have Administrator access to make this change.

1. Right-click the Start button and then click Explore.
2. Click Tools and then click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab.
4. Scroll down to, and clear "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)."
5. Click Apply and then click OK.
6. Start over with step 1 of the previous section.

Windows XP Home Edition
To do this when running the Windows XP Home Edition, you must restart in Safe mode, log in as Administrator, and edit the registry.

1. Restart the computer in Safe mode. For instructions on how to do this, read the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."
2. After Windows starts in Safe mode, log in as Administrator.
3. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
4. Type regedit and then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)

CAUTION: You are about to make changes to the registry. Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before you make any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified keys only. For instructions, read the document, "How to make a backup of the Windows registry."

5. Navigate to and select the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Symantec

6. Click the Edit menu and then click Permissions. The Permissions for Symantec dialog box opens.
7. Locate your user name in the Group or User Name section and select it.



8. In the Permissions for Users section, in the Allow column, select Full Control.



9. Repeat the procedure in steps 7 and 8 for Power Users.
10. Click Apply and OK.