 Now obsolete! Don't waste your money!, 2005-12-22
I just tried to renew my Norton Systemworks 2002, and the Symantec website said that the virus definitions, program updates, and so forth, for the 2002 version are now discontinued, and that I need to upgrade to another version.
3 of 3 customers found the following review helpful:
What a Nightmare!, 2003-04-28
I've wasted a minimum of 5 hours now trying to install this product... I've followed every tip on Symantec's site, from using symcln and on. I've installed and uninstalled 4 times. I had it working part-way for a couple of weeks, but LiveUpdate wouldn't work and I had to download all the virus definitions manually. Scheduler wouldn't work so I had to do all my updates and scans manually. Recently I tried to fix the problems by doing a clean re-install. It only made the problems worse. Strangely, it works just fine on my Win2000 machine but on the NT4.0 machine it is my worst nightmare. Beware....
 My system has never run better!, 2003-03-24
Since I have been using Norton SystemWorks my computer has never run better! The antivirus program is wonderful as always and in my book is the best protection you can get for your home computer. The other utilities included in SystemWorks are keeping everything else running smoothly. It's by far the simplest of this type of software I've ever used. The One Button Checkup is my favorite feature. A must have!
1 of 1 customers found the following review helpful:
 Antivirus OK, Ghost Poor, 2003-03-02
I needed an anti-virus program for my new Compaq, and a backup utility as well. Systemworks had both, so I bought it. NAV seems to work OK with Win XP/Office XP. No complaints. Now, about Ghost:
Day 1 - Ghost needs to run under DOS, not Windows. It creates a boot disk. The boot disk uses PC DOS. PC DOS will not boot on a Compaq. You need to use MS DOS. Where can you get that nowadays?! I finally downloaded and installed Caldera Open DOS. That will boot, at any rate. Ghost won't recognize Open DOS, but with enough tinkering, you can get it to install on your pre-formatted boot disk.
Day 2 - I want to back up across the network. Ghost creates a network boot disk. But, the driver for this Compaq doesn't work. (Shame on me for buying a Compaq!) Hours of Web searches, Symantec, Intel, and Compaq tech spport, finally get a driver that loads. Yay!
Day 3 - Just because you can load a driver doesn't mean that you can mount a network drive. The network support in Ghost is to clone one PC running Ghost to another PC running Ghost. I just want to back up to another PC, not wipe it out with a copy of this one. Does anybody remember DOS networking? Symantec is no help. More hours of struggle to get this working. Luckily, I use a similar backup scheme at work, so I can cannibalize their boot files.
Day 4 - I run Ghost and it can't see the network drive. For that you need the Enterprise edition. You are out of luck. Just because I'm too stubborn to give up, I download a trial version of the Enterprise edition. It can see the network drive, but fails to complete the backup when the compressed dump file reaches 2 Gb. "Please insert another volume," is not a good message to see when you are in DOS and backing up to a network drive. Summary: I should have bought a stand-alone version of Norton Anti-Virus.
4 of 4 customers found the following review helpful:
Symantic-Example of Useless Bloatware - DANGER, 2003-03-01
I have been a computer professional for 20 years and remember in the beginning the Norton Utilities for DOS. I have purchased and used every version and have some insights. First of all, they have become like the auto industry. They create a new model every year to further programming obsolesence. They have focused more on the Moronic Iconoclastic image of their once respected founder than on the product. Big Blue almost went over the edge a few years ago when they forgot that their company was product driven, not image driven.I find the product to be of dubious value considering Norton has licensed versions of its products already integrated into most Microsoft products[operating systems], and more thoroughly debugged I might add. When I think about all of the coding that went into the splash screens and animations it amuses me because conversly, and to an inverse proportion, they have neglected the hard coding side of the product. It is weak at best in its duties. The virus protection is adequate. The defragging software is a non sequitor in WinXP because the operating system has a more reliable version built in (by guess who). What is the point in risking the stability of your operating system, especially if you are not an expert; by installing this basket of bruised fruit? Unfortunately, most users only want a modicum of protection from viruses and unscheduled crashes, Norton products garner a D+ rating from me. When I look at a company, I look at its product, its practices and finally its ethics. Norton has effectively relegated all of those principals to the rubbish heap. I am not even sure if Peter Norton is still actively involved in the company. I suggest computer users shop carefully for utilities, but first learn how to use the adequate functionality of the operating system. I feel this is adequate for 90% of you out there. Shame on you Peter Norton. You cannot leverage that brand equity for much longer. I wonder if Symmantic even reads these reviews. If Peter still had some say so in the company, this would not be happening. DJC
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