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I am not of big fan of massive footprint, "who the hell knows what it's doing" system tools like Symantec produces. I generally hate Symantec software with the exception of old products like Norton Utilities 2001. Be very careful about software that "does things" for you. Make sure that you really want these "things" done.
[Dec 4, 2004] Amazon.com Software Norton SystemWorks 2005 [AntiVirus, Utilities, GoBack, Check IT] Free from Amazon $60-$60 rebate =$0. Limited time offer.
Includes: Norton AntiVirus, Norton Utilities, and Norton GoBack! Also provides CheckIt Diagnostics, System Optimizer, and additional problem-solving tools.
FileForum Reviews of System Mechanic -- nice opinions
you can try System Mechanic 4 free for 30 days
Norton System Works 2005 has 6 programs in one package - Norton AntiVirus, Utilities, GoBack, CheckIt Diagnostics, System Optimizer, and Additional Web Tools
A second choice would be V-COM's Systemsuite. Majority of
programs in v.5 are the same as SS4.
The registry editor/optimizer is
definitly good! It found over 1000 problems that Norton Utilities missed.
V-com SystemSuite 4.0 review - V-com SystemSuite 4.0 Intro - Utility suites - CNET Reviews
If you don't want to pay for a master craftsman, a jack-of-all-trades may get the job done just as well. V-com SystemSuite 4.0 is just such a generalist, with an impressive array of system utilities that handle everything from antivirus protection to Registry maintenance and system monitoring to crash avoidance. The latest version tosses in the NetDefense personal firewall and scans your e-mail for viruses--both valuable additions. (By comparison, V-com's main competitor, Norton SystemWorks 2002, scans e-mail for viruses but doesn't include a firewall.) SystemSuite doesn't excel at any one task, but it's an excellent value if you're on a limited budget and want an extensive bag of tricks at your disposal. Norton boasts higher quality, but since its personal firewall costs $49.95, SystemSuite offers the most bang for your buck
"SYSTEMSUITE 5- WHAT A LOSER!!"
Conan on 14-Aug-2003 09:53:28 AM
Pros: Nice improvement over SystemSuite 4 with the inital face page. Majority of programs are the same as SS4. The response time from questions sent to the Tech Dept is excellent. I received answers back within 48 hrs via email. Unfortunately, the responses back were not helpful, such as "we have no answer for that problem, we are still investigating a resolution".
Cons: Firewall has a software problem, as confirmed by their Tech Dept. A reboot of the computer, prior to going online needs to be completed first. The firewall will not allow any internet access during the inital startup. SS5 Tech Dept. stated that this is a problem that they are still trying to figure out. Major nuisance! I also noticed that the Cookie Cleaner works incorrectly also. When you click the button to clean away the cookies, nothing happens. I notice that I have to exit the SS5 page and then restart the SS5 homepage and go back to the cookies cleanup section. After doing this it will usually work. Sometimes also, I noticed that the SS5 page will disappear from the monitor screen after clicking the clean button for the cookie cleanup. I would have to restart the SS5 once again and start over. I notice that it is approx 50-50 chance on it working the first time. The added extra, the popup blocker, was a waste. Poor instructions and a constant modification of the rules everytime I go to a new web page that has popups. I strongly feel that this version of SS5 is a dramatic dropoff of SS4 reliablity. I was very unhappy with it. The final problem with this new version, is that the included instruction booklet is approx 4" x 4" in size and the print size is so small, I need to use a magnifying glass to keep from getting a headache. I will be watching for the new version of Norton SystemWorks 2004, hopefully they improved. If so, I may be going back to them.
The quick status of system suite is great, monitors the diferent options and when they were last run and if needed to be run again or updated....would be nice if the viruscanner would update New Patern Files in the background like many other vendors... I Give this product "TWO THUMBS UP" I Would definately get the next upgrade. Some People have had problems,maybe they have not installed the needed patches that v-com offers on their site. I Highly Recommend This Product. |
I had nothing but problems with the anti virus. When it found viruses, it couldn't remove them (4 out of 4), and instead pointed me to trend micro's web site for information on how to manually delete the affected files and fix the registry. Not a huge deal, because I'm pretty comfortable with this kind of stuff, but many wouldn't be. Also, as someone else mentioned whenever there is an update in virus definitions, you have to reload the whole set. Over dial up this usually meant in excess of 20 minutes. Lastly, I was infected by a keylogging trojan which was trying to send my data to a computer in St Petersburg Russia! The scanner didn't recognize it and all tech support repeatedly told me was not to worry, even though I had unmistakable signs of a break-in. When I asked for a manager, including a copy of the trojan along with the name/description Mcafee had for the trojan (used free online scan), the manager's reply was that they really weren't an anti virus company (they just package it), and I should buy anti virus software from someone else to solve my problem (I wish I was kidding)! I asked again for help, but they just closed my case without responding. In fairness, the firewall in the suite is very good. In fact, this is what first alerted me to the keylogger. However, I recently learned that it is a tuned down version of what Sygate gives away for free on their web site (non business use). I tried the free Sygate version, and found I like it just a little better (more features). I also learned that you can get a better version of the trend anti virus sw for free from trend's site (The free version actually cleans viruses). After my fiasco with VCOM and the keylogger, I rebuilt the system and tried the Symantec and McAfee anti virus packages. Symantec froze my system forcing me to reinstall windows (common complaint), and McAfee made me lower my internet security settings in order for it to run. I ended up buying Panda Titanium Antivirus, and couldn't be happier. After all of this, my advice is to download the free Sygate (or if you prefer Zone Alarm) firewall software and back it up with Panda AV. If you aren't comfortable with a free firewall, both will sell you a pro version (I'd try both free ones before buying one). Also, I switched browsers from IE to Mozilla Firefox, and that stopped the viruses and spyware/adware very nicely. The great thing is, it was free, painless to install and start using, and has features I didn't realize IE was missing until I used it. |
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Annoyances.org - re Norton Utilities - Scam (Windows XP Discussion Forum)
Amen, brother, amen. This is an old "Norton's" trick and they have been getting away with it for far too long. I try to find alternatives to their products for just that reason. I am glad too see that others have noticed this discusting business practice and I hope that somebody does something about it. For now, how about a boycott? You got one member, right here (and for life). I remember when Peter Norton's name stood for quality. That day, sadly, has passed us. I'll start: I will not be purchasing NU2001. You can break my ribs, but I won't buy it... Next?
Printer friendly version for Norton SystemWorks 2004 Professional - ZDNet Reviews
Reviewed by ; Barry Brenesal
Reviewed January 13, 2004
Installing or reinstalling Norton SystemWorks 2004 Professional isn't easy and could be time-consuming. We first tried to upgrade from SystemWorks 2003 and lost all of our previous settings in the process. Next, we removed SystemWorks completely and chose the full installation. The SystemWorks uninstall worked without a problem; however, when we tried to create a profile name in the new Norton Password Manager utility, the program insisted the name--the same used during our partial installation--was a duplicate. After consulting Symantec, we edited the system registry to remove the prior installation information not removed during the standard SystemWorks uninstall process.
The main SystemWorks menu, which lets you choose among disk cleanup and repair utilities, is easy to navigate. A separate Options menu lets you control which utilities run in the background upon start-up and how each of these utilities behaves. Unfortunately, even after turning off all memory-resident utilities (Password Manager, Virus Auto-Protect, Smart Sweep, and so on), we found that SystemWorks continued to load several memory-hogging executables at start-up. To turn these off, we had to access the Startup file under Windows' System Configuration. Even then, one executable, SYMLCSVC, continues to run in the background whenever you boot your system. SYMLCSVC is part of a central licensing service designed to prevent software piracy. It serves no other purpose and can't be turned off unless you use a third-party memory manager.
Finally, SystemWorks 2004 Professional loads perceptibly slower than its predecessors. On several different computers and operating systems we tested informally, our loading times (without any of the package's utilities running in the background) were two to three times longer than SystemWorks 2003's.
SystemWorks continues to provide antivirus, disk-defragmentation, registry-repair, backup, and file-cleanup tools in its latest version. New to SystemWorks is Norton AntiVirus (NAV) 2004's ability to detect potential viral threats in compressed Windows 2000 and XP file archives--a welcome development. In addition, NAV now treats spyware and adware as it does viruses, allowing these programs to be quarantined or deleted. We're glad Norton has chosen to include this feature, but we find its implementation lacking. Some shareware applications come with a small spyware element, and utilities such as Lavasoft's Ad-aware let you quarantine individual elements while running the main program. NAV doesn't, meaning your shareware simply won't run.
This time around, SystemWorks includes Norton Password Manager (NPM) 2004, which stores address and credit card-related information. The utility automatically detects field types while browsing online and offers the personal information you've filled out in advance. For example, NPM stores and retrieves username and password fields used in applications and on Web sites and supplies them the next time you access the application or Web site. But, unlike other password managers, NPM caches usernames and passwords only as you enter them; these fields cannot be edited.. NPM stores its information under a series of user-defined, password-protected profiles.
SystemWorks 2004 Professional includes Norton Ghost 2004, a backup app that allows users to recover damaged files quickly and easily. There's also a new performance test that allows power users to benchmark the performance of their PC, and a Process Viewer, which diagnoses system conflicts or performance issues.
Phone support for SystemWorks remains excessively expensive: $29.95 per call or $2.95 per minute. As there's no weekend phone technical support, you'll have to plan all of your technical problems to occur between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday. The online support is a little better: Symantec's support Web site supplies a host of free information about current viruses. Still, we think Symantec could afford to provide better support for its products.
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Last modified: March 10, 2010