Hi john
This was great, thank you!
Enabled the debug log, tried (and failed) to start the SMC service. Debug log contained:
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:2692] Enterprise version, Build 301!!!
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] IsAlone() = 004DD580
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] Service ThreadID 7C809728
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] Loading C:\Program Files\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection\Cltdef.dat
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] ImportFromStream : loadXML failed
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] Fail to import profile from C:\Program Files\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection\Cltdef.dat.bak
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] ProfileMan: cannot load client profile C:\Program Files\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection\Cltdef.dat
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] Service Start Initialize() Failed!
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] Service is shutting down
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] Saving SMC State
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] Skip saving state because Engine is not running
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] Stopping SyLink...
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] delete SMC State...
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] chmod on file C:\Program Files\Symantec\Symantec Endpoint Protection\SerState.dat to read/write.
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] delete netport...
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] delete IDSSignatureLib...
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:3992] Disable damper...
12/18 10:45:35 [2960:2692] System configuration has been saved.
the line that has been bolded shows the problem. Sandip's earlier post said to check the size of the file (he was on the right track) but the debug log shows it can't be loaded. Deleted this file and copied one from another machine that's working successfully, and the service starts up perfectly!
Thanks again John, a good tip for debugging! =)
Regards
Vance