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PC utilities: Norton system works: looking for your opinion
Norton system works: looking for your opinion
by sbaxter - 5/11/05 1:29 PMI would like to buy 2005 Norton system works to fix and solve some of my computer related issues. However, just by doing a little research on it through web site reviews and asking around, I've been getting a lot of mixed reviews and answers. Some claim it causes more damage than help, some say it kills performance on your computer, and some says it works great. So which is it? All opinions are welcomed. Thank you.
Frankly?
by R. Proffitt
- 5/11/05 2:49 PM
In reply to: Norton system works: looking for your opinion by sbaxter
Since reporting a bug years ago (see http://www.bugnet.com/alerts/bugalert_010110.html ) Symantec never shipped a fix, patch or noted the issue in their subsequent products.
I'd received answers such as "It doesn't affect many people." to "It's not a bug in our product." over the years.
Frankly? This is a software package I only obtain to see if the bugs are still there.
And my findings? "Yup."
Bob
Norton upgrades
by williamferguson - 5/13/05 11:51 AM In reply to: Frankly? by R. Proffitt
Symantec seems to believe that you should know all before upgrading. I upgraded by downloading Norton Symstem Works from 2003 to 2005. I was unable to get it to work properly. I called and was shipped off to India for help. What a mess. They really do not know the problems. After being tranfered to 4 tech departments I was told that the activation number was still on 2003. I was also told to uninstall the program and reinstall it again. This was no help. I finally asked for my money back and ordered the discs. I have downloaded the anti-virus many times and had no problems. It seems that Symantec dose not advise you to uninstall and says you should have known. This really screwed up my computer and a lot of clean up work. My computer is a Dell P4 with 512 Ram 60 Gig Drive.
Me next. . .
by Coryphaeus - 5/11/05 5:13 PM In reply to: Norton system works: looking for your opinion by sbaxterI'm running NSW 2005 on two XP machines. Absolutely zero problems. What I've found is that people with problems with NSW 2005 have flaky PCs to begin with. The PCs are either under powered and overworked, or the drivers are not careful what they do with them.
I've been using Norton products since before most nerds have been born. The few glitches I've had have been fixed with a visit to the Symantec site, or a phone call. In my experience, superb support. Again, in my experience. But my PCs are squeaky clean, powered perfectly, and driven by someone who's careful about what is installed and downloaded.
That said, I've had zero infections using NSW and NAV over the years. I will agree that it can be resource hog. But I've seen people try to run XP on a five year old machine, add NSW 2005, and complain that their system is slow. Well, duh!
Don't attempt it unless you have a perfect system, at least a 2 Gig processor, and ample RAM. Mine (both of them) are such and I'm totally satisfied.
HTH,
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use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.
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Norton
by Ray Bradsher - 5/13/05 6:41 AM In reply to: Me next. . . by CoryphaeusNot everybody needs a 2 gig speed demon, but every one that uses the internet needs protection.
NSW
by frj11 - 5/13/05 7:24 AM In reply to: Me next. . . by CoryphaeusI too have used Norton Utilities since the DOS days. Over all their products are outstanding. I would recommend then to anyone.
NSW-useful TOOL...
by daChief - 5/13/05 4:32 PM In reply to: NSW by frj11I add my name to those who have used Norton Utilities forever. But like all new tools, they require a learning curve. I have made a practice of installing the current edition of Systemworks to each new computer I use. It is the second application to be installed (second only to an ISP app), and gets fully updated before anything else is installed.
All settings and permissions are configured first, while reading and understanding the functions in the user guide and the online pages. Subsequently, I've never had a lick of trouble with any of the functions.
While working (offline) with large image files, I simply disable the background programs, to free-up resources.
This has proved effective since the earliest days of Windows95.
Norton Systems Works
by wshredder - 5/13/05 4:46 PM In reply to: NSW by frj11I have used the components of NSW since dos days, and have had no problems with it. It does what is supposed to do, that is protect my comupter from viruses, and maintain it.
It has done this very well for me.
Me next. . . Reply
by Jim Baber - 5/13/05 9:23 AM In reply to: Me next. . . by CoryphaeusYou are lucky to be able to stay right up at the front with new hardware and lots of cash for un-needed memory. If you are retired like I am, cash isn't as availible as it once was. But, what I want my computer to do is more complex than ever (time to keep me occupied) and my computer is typically running 12 to 15 major applications at a time. I cannot give NWS the memory it demands, nor can I give up the memory cycles it requires. My CPU is always @ 98-100% (it is a 433MHz Intel) and has 256 MB of RAM to work with.
My computer obviously is pushed hard by running continously 24/7 XP Pro SP2, Apache internet server, ArGoSoft E-mail Server, SpyKiller, AVG free Antivirus, Zone Alarm Pro firewall, Counterspy, Sunny Data Control to control & monitor my 10,000 Watt photo-voltaic solar system, my weather station, Outlook to schedule my time and for taking notes on the fly, and Excel to integrate the infomation from my weather station and Solar plant to produce a daily power bill status and to forcast the annual cost (or credit) for the power to run my all electric home. Also, periodically I do use Netscape 7.2, Access, Word, and other applications.
I am pleased to say that I have not crashed XP or any of the other programs I have run in over 3 months. I do regularly on Friday take the entire system down and restart it for cleanup purposes.
I tried Norton a year ago, and it made my (overworked and underpowered) machine very unstable and unpredictable, and I uninstalled it within 4 days after 20-25 lockups or crashes.
NSW--not so helpful
by THG - 5/14/05 4:41 PM In reply to: Me next. . . by CoryphaeusI've been using Norton since the early DOS days, and most of that time, I have found the programs very useful. But when you DO have a problem (which seems to be happening much more lately, they are terrible. If you get any response at all, it is a whole series of steps YOU should take to fix THEIR admitted errors. Reinstalling several times is common. I have had their techies tell me it is a known problem, but Norton will not issue a fix or a patch.
Most recently, on a brand-new fully loaded Dell P4 I tried to run NSW 2005 and the GoBack program crashed the computer. Norton's response: "Sometimes that happens. Go in and try to repair any damage it has done."
No fix, no apology, no refund, no concern with customers. Too bad to spoil a good reputation, but they are going rapidly downhill.
Long time Norton user...
by whiteoxx - 5/15/05 6:57 AM In reply to: Me next. . . by CoryphaeusI've also been using Norton products for a long time. Since Norton Utils for DOS 3.3. Not anymore though. I refuse to give them another penny of my dough, not even when it turns out to be free after rebate. Their knowledge base is excellent for tracking down and explaining how to correct problems with their software. Unfortunately there are way too many problems and don't waste your time with tech support if you can't find the answer yourself. 90% of the problems I had with their software was due to the previous version not uninstalling itself correctly and causing major problems when installing the latest version. Their solution is to manually uninstall (i.e. regedit) all the registry keys and files that were left behind. After that, it worked fine. What a pain in the #@$! How do they expect to keep customers if the only one's who have troublefree installs are new users. I put up with them through NSW 2000-2003. I feel like an idiot for being loyal for so long, thru so many issues. Symantec's the worst thing that ever happened to Norton.
After 10 years I'm removing Norton - Using PC-cillin
by lizamay - 5/22/05 9:54 AM In reply to: Long time Norton user... by whiteoxx... and I'm nervous what might happen when I uninstall Norton.
Any recommendations for best way to uninstall all NAV components; and save, mirror, entire system? I do have an additional 80 GB external hard drive. It's NAV2003, on WinXP, with a firewalled ethernet connection to comcast.
FINALLY giving up on stupid Symantec. Should have done it long ago. After spending a week trying to "re-subscribe" to LiveUpdate, finally realizing that Symantec DELIBERATELY makes it impossible in order to force you to upgrade, I say enough is enough. I've been loyal (against all recommendations) for ten years. See ya!
So ... how do I get the daggone thing off my machine without a real mess? Any recommendations?
TIA ...
Liza
NSW 2005
by rebel89 - 7/16/05 7:39 AM In reply to: After 10 years I'm removing Norton - Using PC-cillin by lizamayI have been using NSW or utilities since the beginning it seems. I too put the newest version on any new computer. NSW 2005 would not install. Finally after 6 hrs of trying anything I could think of and searching all of symantec I got it. First I went into the control panel, uninstalled the liveupdate. Then I went back the to support and they have a little program that will uninstall all instances of NSW from your computer. I had to do it in that order for it to work. (Trial and error) Wonder why they don't just post that up front instead of making a person jump through hoops?
YES
by ronlene - 5/15/05 3:50 PM In reply to: Me next. . . by CoryphaeusI agree 100% with this message. I have been using NSW on my 4 Dell computers forever. Ron
NSW 2005
by jackwei - 5/24/05 8:16 AM In reply to: Me next. . . by CoryphaeusNorton was a great product when it operated in DOS. Aside from buying up their competition, they crashed Windows 95 and have caused damage to my newest computers everytime Windows issued a service pak or an upgrade. There was Norton bringing up the rear of the horse.
And each time I got a trial version, I tried it and regretted it for days. Getting the thing uninstalled usually means Format C:\ and a brand new install of windows.
So I have learned never to install anything from Norton, except Ghost, on any of my computers. My daughter's brand new laptop came with a 3 month trial of Norton Anti-virus installed. It seems to work but I would hate to drive 500 into Manhattan to remove Norton Last it took 6 different registry cleanup software to get all the remnants it left behind on my computer. There was even a Norton-like file which caused other anti-virus software to crash. Finally I found it mislabelled deliberately on the Norton Setup Disk.
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