Entered CNET Catalog: 10/07/2005
SKU: 10431699
Manufacturer: Symantec Corporation
Manufacturer description
Optimize your computer experience with Norton SystemWorks 2006 Premier. This powerful solution offers advanced protection, automatically backing up everything on your computer. It also prevents many problems, keeping your computer healthy and protected against viruses and dangerous spyware. And when trouble does occur, it's there to help you repair and recover.User opinions
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User Rating: 
1/10
worst norton ever
Pros: wish I could find one
Cons: product doesn't work right, customer support non-existant
Review:
SAVE YOURSELF!!! Don't buy Norton. It's even worse than you can imagine. It takes over your system and then constantly sends you annoying reminders that you're out of date, when you're not. And the customer support is non-existant, they don't even answer any help emails. I can't wait for my subscription to end so I can somehow get this thing off my system and out of my life. Please, I'm not kidding, anything has to be better than this piece of &*%^$.
User Rating: 
2/10
What a rip-off!
Pros: One Button Checkup
Cons: anti-virus slow, activation
Review:
What a rip-off! After I had to replace a hard drive, Symantec would not allow me activate because my anti-virus subscription expired. I use AVG anti-virus software. Symantec insisted that I renew my subscription or purchase a new Norton Systemworks. My version of Systemworks is now useless to me. If I had known this, I never would have purchased this program. I have used Systemworks for years but I am no longer a Symantec customer. Their website even states that Symantec "Permits users to transfer the software to their upgraded or new PC without having to purchase a new copy of the software." Don't believe it. A lawyer might have a heyday with a class action suit.
Updated
What a rip-off! After I had to replace a hard drive, Symantec would not allow me to activate again because my anti-virus subscription expired. I use AVG anti-virus software. Symantec insisted that I renew my subscription or purchase a new Norton Systemworks. My version of Systemworks is now useless to me. If I had known this, I never would have purchased this program. I have used Systemworks for years but I am no longer a Symantec customer. Their website even states that Symantec "Permits users to transfer the software to their upgraded or new PC without having to purchase a new copy of the software." Don't believe it. A lawyer might have a heyday with a class action suit.
What a rip-off! After I had to replace a hard drive, Symantec would not allow me to activate again because my anti-virus subscription expired. I use AVG anti-virus software. Symantec insisted that I renew my subscription or purchase a new Norton Systemworks. My version of Systemworks is now useless to me. If I had known this, I never would have purchased this program. I have used Systemworks for years but I am no longer a Symantec customer. Their website even states that Symantec "Permits users to transfer the software to their upgraded or new PC without having to purchase a new copy of the software." Don't believe it. A lawyer might have a heyday with a class action suit.
User Rating: 1/10
Not worth your PC space or time
Pros: Nice yellow box
Cons: Everything -- Customer Service and Application
Review:
This is for SystemWorks Basic 2007 -- I got this with IS 2007 and it was the worst decision I could of done. SystemWorks never configured properly, especially after many attempts at contacting Symantec. Problem never was corrected using the Registry Editor or Auto Removal Tool that they have. I paid for this product in December of 2006 and I finally got through to Customer Service (01/18/07). Getting through to someone in Techincal Support or Customer Service is a pain. Wait time lasted over an hour. Completely avoid Symantec at all costs.
User Rating: 1/10
Destroyed My Computer - Complete Disaster
Pros: None At All
Cons: Erases Windows System Restore, blocks legitimate websites
Review:
You load this thing up and all seems fine.
Then try going to Yahoo...it's blocked you can't get into it.
Poking around in the settings is a nightmare. Finally, unchecking anything that even resembles the word yahoo in the "worm" control seems to fix the problem.
Then when you start surfing you see other weird things going on...chunks of webpages missing, images not loading correctly, like nobody knows how to code to HTML anymore. This evil software seems to be just randomly blocking certain sites without any rhyme or reason.
OK, screw this S**T, I say. I'm uninstalling it. That doesn't fix the problem. Go to trusty "System Restore" which has always saved me in the past from crappy software and find the that "Norton Go Back" has erased every previous Windows restore point as it installs. There is no way to reset your computer back to before this software has been installed.
Go to uninstall, reinstall, and the reinstall doesn't ask you for your software key - the thing has left stuff on your drive authenticating your purchase even after it uninstalled. Also completely uncool.
So now I have this damn thing running in my computer, with every "worm detector" switched off so that I can actually browse the internet, my Windows Firewall disabled (it screwed that up somehow also), and, other than the virus protection, I would have been better off without even owning this thing. What a waste of money.
I'll run like this for a little while, until I can bother to spend the time to do a FULL FORMAT OF MY HARD DRIVE AND CLEAN INSTALL OF WINDOWS FROM SCRATCH, THANKS TO THIS SOFTWARE. Avoid this like the plague it is. Installing this software is effectively equivalent to a bad virus attack.
Then try going to Yahoo...it's blocked you can't get into it.
Poking around in the settings is a nightmare. Finally, unchecking anything that even resembles the word yahoo in the "worm" control seems to fix the problem.
Then when you start surfing you see other weird things going on...chunks of webpages missing, images not loading correctly, like nobody knows how to code to HTML anymore. This evil software seems to be just randomly blocking certain sites without any rhyme or reason.
OK, screw this S**T, I say. I'm uninstalling it. That doesn't fix the problem. Go to trusty "System Restore" which has always saved me in the past from crappy software and find the that "Norton Go Back" has erased every previous Windows restore point as it installs. There is no way to reset your computer back to before this software has been installed.
Go to uninstall, reinstall, and the reinstall doesn't ask you for your software key - the thing has left stuff on your drive authenticating your purchase even after it uninstalled. Also completely uncool.
So now I have this damn thing running in my computer, with every "worm detector" switched off so that I can actually browse the internet, my Windows Firewall disabled (it screwed that up somehow also), and, other than the virus protection, I would have been better off without even owning this thing. What a waste of money.
I'll run like this for a little while, until I can bother to spend the time to do a FULL FORMAT OF MY HARD DRIVE AND CLEAN INSTALL OF WINDOWS FROM SCRATCH, THANKS TO THIS SOFTWARE. Avoid this like the plague it is. Installing this software is effectively equivalent to a bad virus attack.
User Rating: 1/10
activation and licensing a major problem; ghost now lame
Pros: powerful tool set on papaer
Cons: plagued with activation problems in reality
Review:
I recently removed Norton Systemworks 2006 from all of my computers. There were a couple of reasons for this:
1) Activation & licensing. For some reason, I had the problem on 3 out of 4 computers that SystemWorks looses its activation information. The first 2 times, I was able to fix the problem with telephone help from their tech support, though it took hours to do and was difficult to understand the support person's english, as the accent was pretty strong (not US located support - I think the person said they were in India). The last time was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. It is no longer possible to call tech support for this kind of help. One must now mail them back your CD and sleeve and some other documentation, and they will get back to you in a few weeks if they think your case has merit. What??? I don't have this kind of time. PCCillin is now my AV (comes with a nice firewall and antispam), and I'm looking at Iolo's SystemMechanic for tools.
2) Ghost used to be a great tool. You could make a bootable floppy or cdrom, and then make images of drives containing windows or linux systems. As an admin, it was a very useful and portable tool in my case. Not any longer. Ghost now will only work from within windows - can't make a boot floppy anymore. Also won't work for linux. No longer a useful admin recovery tool.
1) Activation & licensing. For some reason, I had the problem on 3 out of 4 computers that SystemWorks looses its activation information. The first 2 times, I was able to fix the problem with telephone help from their tech support, though it took hours to do and was difficult to understand the support person's english, as the accent was pretty strong (not US located support - I think the person said they were in India). The last time was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. It is no longer possible to call tech support for this kind of help. One must now mail them back your CD and sleeve and some other documentation, and they will get back to you in a few weeks if they think your case has merit. What??? I don't have this kind of time. PCCillin is now my AV (comes with a nice firewall and antispam), and I'm looking at Iolo's SystemMechanic for tools.
2) Ghost used to be a great tool. You could make a bootable floppy or cdrom, and then make images of drives containing windows or linux systems. As an admin, it was a very useful and portable tool in my case. Not any longer. Ghost now will only work from within windows - can't make a boot floppy anymore. Also won't work for linux. No longer a useful admin recovery tool.
User Rating: 2/10
Activation Process Leaves Much To Be Desired
Pros: At the moment, I can't think of any.
Cons: bloated software, customer service, activation process
Review:
I purchased Norton System Works 2006 in May of this year. Unfortunatly, I had numerous problems with the system the software was installed on and ended up reformatting the box three times. Ok, no issues, the software activated perfectly fine each time. Well today I purchased a new laptop to replace the old box and of course no I can not activate the software. Apparently you only get three activations and that's it.
I have talked to six different people at Symantec and each tells me that I will have to buy a new copy in order to activate. Sorry - but What?! I have a legit copy of software which I've owned for 6 months and now it is useless. Take what you will from that as I am no longer a supporter of Symantec and will be purchasing other software today.
I have talked to six different people at Symantec and each tells me that I will have to buy a new copy in order to activate. Sorry - but What?! I have a legit copy of software which I've owned for 6 months and now it is useless. Take what you will from that as I am no longer a supporter of Symantec and will be purchasing other software today.
User Rating: 2/10
The slowest, most annoying and most intrusive software ever used
Pros: It does the job, but so does others
Cons: My PC slows down by 50%
Review:
It was my mistake to install this thing. First of all it took long time to install and it took second try to properly install. Now the hard drive LED almost stay on all the time. Web surfing is very slow. When I start typing in the boxes on the web pages, my PC beeps and I will be brought to a Yahoo page. The system scan is, how should I say it, turtle-ly slooooow. No wonder they offer so many rebates. My advise, don't buy it even it is free. Because you should be paid for the trouble, not just for free.
User Rating: 2/10
Disappointing
Pros: Utilities were nice
Cons: backups(I think--never could get it to work)
Review:
I'm sure there's a very good backup utility in there somewhere. No matter what I did I never could get it to work. I tried, I really tried. I wanted this thing to work and back up my HD.
I finally gave up and got Acronis. The faq's on the Acronis site provided more information than got anywhere on the Symantec site (and the Acronis documentation is excellent and you can download it BEFORE you buy the product). I was able to clone my HD and back stuff up successfully the first night I had the Acronis True Image s/w.
Some of the other utilities worked well, but not the reason I got NSW in the first place.
I finally gave up and got Acronis. The faq's on the Acronis site provided more information than got anywhere on the Symantec site (and the Acronis documentation is excellent and you can download it BEFORE you buy the product). I was able to clone my HD and back stuff up successfully the first night I had the Acronis True Image s/w.
Some of the other utilities worked well, but not the reason I got NSW in the first place.
User Rating: 1/10
Crashed my computer and wiped out all data
Pros: I honestly didn't find any
Cons: Crashed my computer and wiped out all data
Review:
I installed Norton Systemworks 2006, I enabled the feature GoBack, and the computer promptly crashed and burned. I couldn't even get it started again. I brought the computer to a repair place, but they weren't able to rescue my data. It seems ironic that a product which is supposed to help keep your computer run smoothly should wreak such havoc. Nothing I've encountered before, no virus, no worm, no malevolent hacker, has ever caused me such severe damage. A quick search on the internet shows that this is a rather common problem with the program. I'm in awe of Symantec's business savvy. Every virus writer tries to harm your computer, but Symantec manages to charge you money to do it.
User Rating: 1/10
Buyer Beware,,, dont buy it!!!
Pros: only1 when I uninstalled this thing!
Cons: conflicts with other apps, causes system crashes and prevents clean shutdowns, ect
Review:
I have a stronger than avg knowledge of computer systems and software as well as a nice power pc,,, (p4,ATI X850, 3gig RAM, ect)
I have used Norton Sys Works and Virus since it came out and have been a very happy customer until the new 2006 version came out. After purchasing just 2 months ago I have had so many issues with the Nortons products and my computer that I re-formated my hard drive three times and started with a fresh install. Well little did I know that the user agreement prevents you from activating (activation key required to run)more than 3 times. I was told that there is no exception and that there system shows I have activated it 3 times. Because of that,, even if they are no longer in use,,, I have to purchase a new lic.
Now in the old Norton way customer satisfaction matters,, but let me tell you it doesn't today!
Bottom line it always caused start up and shut down problems,,, it conflicted with 2 or 3 other devices including my Creative Audigy sound card and my HP 2600 Printer....
I will never,, ever buy another Symantec product again.
Im so disapointed because the 2000-2005 products and customer service were great!
Oh and don't think your going to get to talk to someone that can read something besides a script or speak english.
I have used Norton Sys Works and Virus since it came out and have been a very happy customer until the new 2006 version came out. After purchasing just 2 months ago I have had so many issues with the Nortons products and my computer that I re-formated my hard drive three times and started with a fresh install. Well little did I know that the user agreement prevents you from activating (activation key required to run)more than 3 times. I was told that there is no exception and that there system shows I have activated it 3 times. Because of that,, even if they are no longer in use,,, I have to purchase a new lic.
Now in the old Norton way customer satisfaction matters,, but let me tell you it doesn't today!
Bottom line it always caused start up and shut down problems,,, it conflicted with 2 or 3 other devices including my Creative Audigy sound card and my HP 2600 Printer....
I will never,, ever buy another Symantec product again.
Im so disapointed because the 2000-2005 products and customer service were great!
Oh and don't think your going to get to talk to someone that can read something besides a script or speak english.
User Rating: 1/10
HORRIBLE Customer Service
Pros: Effective, If you run other security programs at the same time
Cons: Customer service robbed me
Review:
I recently paid to renew my norton antivirus subscription. A box popped up on my computer yesterday stating my key was invalid??? Who knows why this is b/c I have been running the same key for 2 years. I called norton and after 2.5 hours w/ 5 different people from their farmed out customer service nothing had been figured out. The only offer from them: pay $50 for a brand new key and they would add the 6 months remaining on my other key. To note: they could see that I previously purchased from them and could see I had time remaining, BUT ITS THEIR POLICY NOT TO GIVE PARTIAL SUBSCRIPTIONS ------ EVEN WHEN IT IS THEIR FAULT A KEY DIES??? DON'T buy this product. Better products exist
User Rating: 1/10
Be very, very, very sure that you want to install this.
Pros: The box looks okay.
Cons: Caused total system failure and data loss.
Review:
After first installing this (1 GB RAM), it would, upon rebooting, give me an explorer.exe error that I could sometimes click on enough times to get my system up and running. Most of the time it would make my desktop icons and system toolbar disappear - leaving only my Office toolbar on which none of the icons were active. (I am running 2000 Professional, but a friend with XP had most of these same problems).
Your only help options are the online support base or live chat, which is based in either Pakistan or Bangladesh. I spent Friday night, and all of Saturday and Sunday going through all sorts of crazy gyrations, uninstalls, reinstalls, registry backups, removing all previous Symantec anything, doing clean boots, and many more whacko things. Each new live chat person never bothered to read the record of what was previously recommended (even though I used my case number each time). After enough hours of this stuff your eyes are glazed over and your brain has turned to mush and you ignore that niggling little voice in the back of your mind that's telling you that what they're saying doesn't make sense, so you trust "the experts". Don't do it.
When I finally decided to just remove it completely, it seemed that my PC was fine. After all, I had my desktop icons and my toolbars back! Then, on Monday morning I went to open Quick Books and there was some sort of serious error message. I have paid for year-round support from Intuit. I got this sweet, patient, tolerant, and knowledgeable guy (in India) and we very soon realized that the problem was not with Quick Books, but with my PC. Still, he remained on the phone with me for nearly two hours troubleshooting my PC when we realized that I had to run the Windows Repair from CD. So, we hung up.
Windows Repair did no good at all and I copied all of my files to my slave HD, reformatted my main drive, and spent 10 hours on Monday reloading and getting the latest updates for most everything.
Here's the weirdest part, both my machine and my friend's XP not only have corrupted documents and who knows what other files, but we're both missing "CHUNKS" of our e-mail. I have every e-mail from 1997 through July of 2005 (the last time I reinstalled everything). NOTHING after that date. I used Netscape and my friend used Outlook.
This entire experience was a horrible nightmare. I requested a refund from Symantec and a week later they emailed me to say that I had sent it my request to the wrong department. Q: Why didn't they simply FORWARD IT to the correct department? A: Because nothing is easy with Symantec and it would actually be providing something like customer service! I do not ever expect to see my money refunded and will NEVER, EVER use a Symantec product again if I have anything to do with it.
I've had trouble with McAfee in the past. A few people have said that F-Secure is good...
Your only help options are the online support base or live chat, which is based in either Pakistan or Bangladesh. I spent Friday night, and all of Saturday and Sunday going through all sorts of crazy gyrations, uninstalls, reinstalls, registry backups, removing all previous Symantec anything, doing clean boots, and many more whacko things. Each new live chat person never bothered to read the record of what was previously recommended (even though I used my case number each time). After enough hours of this stuff your eyes are glazed over and your brain has turned to mush and you ignore that niggling little voice in the back of your mind that's telling you that what they're saying doesn't make sense, so you trust "the experts". Don't do it.
When I finally decided to just remove it completely, it seemed that my PC was fine. After all, I had my desktop icons and my toolbars back! Then, on Monday morning I went to open Quick Books and there was some sort of serious error message. I have paid for year-round support from Intuit. I got this sweet, patient, tolerant, and knowledgeable guy (in India) and we very soon realized that the problem was not with Quick Books, but with my PC. Still, he remained on the phone with me for nearly two hours troubleshooting my PC when we realized that I had to run the Windows Repair from CD. So, we hung up.
Windows Repair did no good at all and I copied all of my files to my slave HD, reformatted my main drive, and spent 10 hours on Monday reloading and getting the latest updates for most everything.
Here's the weirdest part, both my machine and my friend's XP not only have corrupted documents and who knows what other files, but we're both missing "CHUNKS" of our e-mail. I have every e-mail from 1997 through July of 2005 (the last time I reinstalled everything). NOTHING after that date. I used Netscape and my friend used Outlook.
This entire experience was a horrible nightmare. I requested a refund from Symantec and a week later they emailed me to say that I had sent it my request to the wrong department. Q: Why didn't they simply FORWARD IT to the correct department? A: Because nothing is easy with Symantec and it would actually be providing something like customer service! I do not ever expect to see my money refunded and will NEVER, EVER use a Symantec product again if I have anything to do with it.
I've had trouble with McAfee in the past. A few people have said that F-Secure is good...
User Rating: 
5/10
Embeds itself more and more into windows each year
Pros: Easy firewall for those with less computer expeirence
Cons: Once installed - removal is unquestionable without jacking your computer
Review:
If you go Norton's don't try to change your antivirus program. It embeds itself to windows so much it rips it up if you uninstall. Windows error messages of missing files here and there make a system unstable afterward has been my expierience.
It's bloated even more so than last year. McAfee and Panda have a more superior of heuristic and spyware engine hands down.
If you install virus product and firwall seperately it dosen't list both when you open Nortons Protection Center or the antivirus. Only way to show all three listed is open the firewall and you can switch between all three areas.
Other thing that isn't cool was the protection center shows me limited coverage in alot of areas unrelated to security to get a consumer to purchase other software utility programs to feel I have a sense of FULL coverage. I don't like product launching of other products in software security.
I don't like being told I have limited coverage when I just layed down $80 for a suite or bug in being able to access firewall, antivirus, and Protection center all in one window pane if I install firewall, antivirus seperately.
I give it a mediocore score because I expected a better product from symantec but it's more of the same and obtrusive to me.
It's bloated even more so than last year. McAfee and Panda have a more superior of heuristic and spyware engine hands down.
If you install virus product and firwall seperately it dosen't list both when you open Nortons Protection Center or the antivirus. Only way to show all three listed is open the firewall and you can switch between all three areas.
Other thing that isn't cool was the protection center shows me limited coverage in alot of areas unrelated to security to get a consumer to purchase other software utility programs to feel I have a sense of FULL coverage. I don't like product launching of other products in software security.
I don't like being told I have limited coverage when I just layed down $80 for a suite or bug in being able to access firewall, antivirus, and Protection center all in one window pane if I install firewall, antivirus seperately.
I give it a mediocore score because I expected a better product from symantec but it's more of the same and obtrusive to me.
User Rating: 1/10
Nightmare on Norton Street
Pros: NONE NONE NONE
Cons: It stinks--
Review:
Naively followed instructions to extend my Antivirus subscription, which came with my new IBM R52. Took the "free" systemworks add-on. The thing crippled my laptop-- can't get Outlook to work, can't pull up most web pages, can't communicate with my networked printer. Even after I uninstalled it. Should've looked at user reviews before trusting Symantec-- they have been almost uniformly hateful towards this product. I can see why-- when you go for a refund, or for tech support-- Symantec sends you round in Kafka-esque circles. It's a nightmare.
User Rating: 
3/10
Don't ever buy this piece of junk
Pros: With rebates it's free
Cons: Doesn't work
Review:
Bought two - one for my laptop and one for my desktop. Have used Symantec products for 10 years and this is my last. The laptop stopped downloading automatic updates, now I can't even download updates manually. Now the laptop won't download at all either. Both computers have never been without antivirus or firewalls. So somehow the programs have failed. Other antivirus programs have found no problems with either computer, so it is Symantec errors. Tried Symantec's crappy help tools. Totally useless and futile. Won't go through the trouble of trying to fix it when I can get something that works from someone else. NEVER AGAIN
User Rating: 
7/10
Almost worth it for the anti-virus, BUT...
Pros: Windows integration, user-friendly auto updating, still the gold standard of AntiVirus
Cons: long installation, bloated, not everything as useful as before, Windows integration is a double-edged sword
Review:
I'm not sure what all some of the fuss is about. Am I just the luckiest person on earth? I installed NSW2K6 on my clunking, wheezing old Gateway with an AMD 1.2GHz CPU and 768MB of RAM and the installation, while taking a very long time if you include the LiveUpdates, went without a hitch.
I did do a few things first, however, that most people would likely not think to do. With program suites as large and invasive (more on that later) as Norton, I have learned from long and bitter experience that before installing a utility suite, one had best make sure that any old suites - including ones by the same vendor - be COMPLETELY removed. I completely removed NSW2K5 first using the usual Windows Add/Remove Programs routine. Then I ran RegMechanic, a well known registry cleaning utility, in order to remove all stray references to NSW2K5 from the registry. Then I went and deleted every folder that had anything to do with Symantec. Finally, I rebooted, to make sure I didn't delete something I shouldn't have. And finally FINALLY, I checked to make SURE that no Symantec-related processes were still running in memory.
I don't know if this is why my installation went so smoothly, but I don't think it hurts to be a little too careful.
That being said, I am not sure I will ever buy another Norton utility suite, or ANY utility suite for that matter. I will likely stick with Norton AntiVirus, because it remains top-of-the-heap in its class. Symantec is nearly always the first to stay up with new threats and upload new updates. They have HUGE resources to back this effort. But increasingly, I am going to standalone products, where I can cherry-pick the best defragmenter, the best registry utility, etc. I find that this approach saves hard disk space spent on stuff I don't need or want, as well as money.
Systemworks has gotten so big over the years and seems to intrude into every nook and cranny of Windows. I like system integration as well as the next guy. I like how nicely Windows Security Center and Norton fit together, for instance. But Symantec installs so many libraries into so many places, it is hard to entirely get rid of when you want; any system that has ever had Norton on it is never the same again. And I find that after that long, long install process, I have to go in and disable this unnecessary background craplet, THAT unnecessary background craplet, etc., so that my system resources aren't too taxed to do any real work.
For all I know, if I had a screaming new AMD64X2 4800 with 2GB of RAM, maybe I wouldn't care about how many things are running in the background...
I take that back. I WOULD care. At some point, I just want my CPU cycles and RAM to be doing REAL WORK! A computer with Norton Systemworks going full tilt with its default settings (everything going) is sort of like a company where the IT department gets so bloated that the company exists for the IT guys instead of the other way around! Norton is basically a janitorial program; it doesn't really do the work we buy computers in order to do, it just makes it possible for the computers to KEEP ON DOING the work we buy them to do. Programs like many of those in Norton are certainly necessary for healthy, trouble-free and productive computing. But how many janitors should one company need?
I did do a few things first, however, that most people would likely not think to do. With program suites as large and invasive (more on that later) as Norton, I have learned from long and bitter experience that before installing a utility suite, one had best make sure that any old suites - including ones by the same vendor - be COMPLETELY removed. I completely removed NSW2K5 first using the usual Windows Add/Remove Programs routine. Then I ran RegMechanic, a well known registry cleaning utility, in order to remove all stray references to NSW2K5 from the registry. Then I went and deleted every folder that had anything to do with Symantec. Finally, I rebooted, to make sure I didn't delete something I shouldn't have. And finally FINALLY, I checked to make SURE that no Symantec-related processes were still running in memory.
I don't know if this is why my installation went so smoothly, but I don't think it hurts to be a little too careful.
That being said, I am not sure I will ever buy another Norton utility suite, or ANY utility suite for that matter. I will likely stick with Norton AntiVirus, because it remains top-of-the-heap in its class. Symantec is nearly always the first to stay up with new threats and upload new updates. They have HUGE resources to back this effort. But increasingly, I am going to standalone products, where I can cherry-pick the best defragmenter, the best registry utility, etc. I find that this approach saves hard disk space spent on stuff I don't need or want, as well as money.
Systemworks has gotten so big over the years and seems to intrude into every nook and cranny of Windows. I like system integration as well as the next guy. I like how nicely Windows Security Center and Norton fit together, for instance. But Symantec installs so many libraries into so many places, it is hard to entirely get rid of when you want; any system that has ever had Norton on it is never the same again. And I find that after that long, long install process, I have to go in and disable this unnecessary background craplet, THAT unnecessary background craplet, etc., so that my system resources aren't too taxed to do any real work.
For all I know, if I had a screaming new AMD64X2 4800 with 2GB of RAM, maybe I wouldn't care about how many things are running in the background...
I take that back. I WOULD care. At some point, I just want my CPU cycles and RAM to be doing REAL WORK! A computer with Norton Systemworks going full tilt with its default settings (everything going) is sort of like a company where the IT department gets so bloated that the company exists for the IT guys instead of the other way around! Norton is basically a janitorial program; it doesn't really do the work we buy computers in order to do, it just makes it possible for the computers to KEEP ON DOING the work we buy them to do. Programs like many of those in Norton are certainly necessary for healthy, trouble-free and productive computing. But how many janitors should one company need?
User Rating: 
10/10
This is the best!
Pros: Incredible upgrade deals and tons of features
Cons: I can't think of any
Review:
I don't understand what everyone is complaining about. I have used versions of Norton SystemWorks since 2001, and I'm currently using Norton SystemWorks 2006 Premier, and I still absolutely love it.
I have a four year old computer with a 1.47GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM, and I have no problems with Norton eating up resources or anything that the others describe. Although I have a few of it's features disabled, like the Norton Protected Recycle Bin, I still have Norton SystemDoctor, Norton Anti-Virus, and Norton Ghost running constantly. And I have no issues with it slowing my computer down.
I encourage people to buy Norton SystemWorks and other Symantec products because Symantec's upgrade deals are the best. It is not uncommon to find Symantec products on sale for nothing after an upgrade rebate.
I have a four year old computer with a 1.47GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM, and I have no problems with Norton eating up resources or anything that the others describe. Although I have a few of it's features disabled, like the Norton Protected Recycle Bin, I still have Norton SystemDoctor, Norton Anti-Virus, and Norton Ghost running constantly. And I have no issues with it slowing my computer down.
I encourage people to buy Norton SystemWorks and other Symantec products because Symantec's upgrade deals are the best. It is not uncommon to find Symantec products on sale for nothing after an upgrade rebate.
User Rating: 3/10
Garbage be forwarned dont install this program
Pros: No Pros this program stinks
Cons: root kit and will hijack your system
Review:
I tried the trial version of this program and when it expired I attempted to uninstall it but I kept getting an error message. Internal error 2343 which directed me to the website I downloaded 3 tools to help uninstall NSW 2006 only to get a message stating the uninstall tool has expired. My system began to freeze and shut down needless to say I had to do a full reformat even system restore wouldn't help. If you want my advice try Iolo system Mechanic its better than NSW 2006 and keeps my system running smoothly.
User Rating: 3/10
Wait and Check 2007 Maybe
Pros: Norton normally has few conflicts
Cons: Elimination of Cleansweep component in 2006!
Review:
I've always been a Norton fan since the first DOS versions.
I buy Norton products because they've always been pretty stable program with little or no conflicts to PCs.
I also buy it and like it because I can get it almost for free after rebates!
However, this year, 2006, Symantec eliminated Norton Cleansweep, which was one of the best components of prior versions of Norton System Works.
I used that program EVERY time I installed a new program. Cleansweep would track the installation of virtually every file of the new program's installer.
If I either did not like the new program or perhaps a trial program that created PC problems, I would uninstall that new program then run Norton Cleansweep. After that I would reboot then run the MS restore to restore my PC back to the point just prior to the new program's install.
I could not find any trace anywhere in my PC of that new program.
Most installer programs do NOT remove all the garbage they install because the programmers who write the uninstaller programs are too lazy or the company is too cheap to make sure that their uninstaller program does the job properly.
I buy Norton products because they've always been pretty stable program with little or no conflicts to PCs.
I also buy it and like it because I can get it almost for free after rebates!
However, this year, 2006, Symantec eliminated Norton Cleansweep, which was one of the best components of prior versions of Norton System Works.
I used that program EVERY time I installed a new program. Cleansweep would track the installation of virtually every file of the new program's installer.
If I either did not like the new program or perhaps a trial program that created PC problems, I would uninstall that new program then run Norton Cleansweep. After that I would reboot then run the MS restore to restore my PC back to the point just prior to the new program's install.
I could not find any trace anywhere in my PC of that new program.
Most installer programs do NOT remove all the garbage they install because the programmers who write the uninstaller programs are too lazy or the company is too cheap to make sure that their uninstaller program does the job properly.
User Rating: 2/10
They went down the microsoft trail and lost their way in bloated programming code.
Pros: Aggressive tools to keep your system clear of trouble.
Cons: Massive system resources required to run.
Review:
Let me say first off, I have been a long-time fan of the Symantec Utility family of programs, and that dates back to when Norton utilities was independant of this modern corporate sweep. Symantec has been buying up the competition, selectively adding to the suite with generally good selections over the years. My SystemWorks 2005 Premier update subscription ended and I thought hey, I'll just buy the new version since with the rebate program, it'll be less than a renewal. What a mistake!
Unfortunately the latest version, with a slightly reorganized line-up, will likely be a true nightmare of a program for anyone not having the absolutely latest hardware and frontloaded with tons of RAM, and big CPU cache.
Symantec has a bunch of web page real estate devoted to installation trouble and post-installation suggestion that you turn everything else off in your system to relieve system resources. That should be the first clue.
Do not believe the System Requirements. Symantec has now adopted the MS "methodology" of estimating hardware requirements. The standard MS "correction factor" is that you should double the numbers and go to the next higher units to get in the ball park. The same applies here.
I have a 2 year old machine with 1GB RAM and barely made it through installation hell (which, by the way, has been getting tougher and tougher with each new version of SystemWorks-since at least v2001 when I started to keep track. Probably relates to trying to secure the subscription against piracy. Ok, fine, but...) The install program bombed a couple of times trying to unload the "old" version....I always forget that part; Symantec updates between versions never go well. So I helped it out and dumped the 2005 version, including the Internet Security 2005, leaving me unprotected for a time. SW2006Premier couldn't finish the post-install updates on my machine-it ran several routines but never did get the security program updater and worm killer to update. I gave up after the third "install"-uninstall attempt. It didn't ever leave me with enough resource wiggle room to run anything else, like even the Windows Add/Remove Programs uninstall tool! Turning off all the little applets that make a Windows environment useful starts to get you there. But I never did find the magic balance point, even after dumping all of my startup stuff in a "clean" boot up configuration. At that point you have to wonder what the point of operating the computer is: is it to get some work done in the Windows pseudo multi-tasking mode or is it to just open up a computing session and hit the reset button after it freezes in opening the Start menu? What fun! I didn't dare install the companion Internet Security I bought for a complete update round. That goes back to the store unopened.
Pest control: No longer does SystemWorks come with it's own uninstaller on board. You have to download that separately from Symantec...if you can get your machine to run long enough. That took me about 3-4 runs before it cleans out about 80% of the file load. The rest you can do by hand. Stuff gets imbedded pretty deep and spread all over the hard drive with this puppy.
Sorry Symantec. You lost a loyal subscriber with this one. I've gotta go find a new tool kit until you re-engineer this dog to have less overhead. Peter N. must be cringing in embarassment.
Unfortunately the latest version, with a slightly reorganized line-up, will likely be a true nightmare of a program for anyone not having the absolutely latest hardware and frontloaded with tons of RAM, and big CPU cache.
Symantec has a bunch of web page real estate devoted to installation trouble and post-installation suggestion that you turn everything else off in your system to relieve system resources. That should be the first clue.
Do not believe the System Requirements. Symantec has now adopted the MS "methodology" of estimating hardware requirements. The standard MS "correction factor" is that you should double the numbers and go to the next higher units to get in the ball park. The same applies here.
I have a 2 year old machine with 1GB RAM and barely made it through installation hell (which, by the way, has been getting tougher and tougher with each new version of SystemWorks-since at least v2001 when I started to keep track. Probably relates to trying to secure the subscription against piracy. Ok, fine, but...) The install program bombed a couple of times trying to unload the "old" version....I always forget that part; Symantec updates between versions never go well. So I helped it out and dumped the 2005 version, including the Internet Security 2005, leaving me unprotected for a time. SW2006Premier couldn't finish the post-install updates on my machine-it ran several routines but never did get the security program updater and worm killer to update. I gave up after the third "install"-uninstall attempt. It didn't ever leave me with enough resource wiggle room to run anything else, like even the Windows Add/Remove Programs uninstall tool! Turning off all the little applets that make a Windows environment useful starts to get you there. But I never did find the magic balance point, even after dumping all of my startup stuff in a "clean" boot up configuration. At that point you have to wonder what the point of operating the computer is: is it to get some work done in the Windows pseudo multi-tasking mode or is it to just open up a computing session and hit the reset button after it freezes in opening the Start menu? What fun! I didn't dare install the companion Internet Security I bought for a complete update round. That goes back to the store unopened.
Pest control: No longer does SystemWorks come with it's own uninstaller on board. You have to download that separately from Symantec...if you can get your machine to run long enough. That took me about 3-4 runs before it cleans out about 80% of the file load. The rest you can do by hand. Stuff gets imbedded pretty deep and spread all over the hard drive with this puppy.
Sorry Symantec. You lost a loyal subscriber with this one. I've gotta go find a new tool kit until you re-engineer this dog to have less overhead. Peter N. must be cringing in embarassment.
User Rating: 1/10
Complete Rubbish! Avoid at all cost!!!
Pros: It arrived in a HUGE cardboard box that my toddler really liked...
Cons: This kind of stuff second-rate amateur half-baked stuff should be banned as ?cruel and unusual punishment?.
Review:
As an average Joe I would reasonably expect that when I buy a product from a big ?name? company like Symantec that their products might actually work as advertised without the need of a degree in computer science, as a result of the complete and likely deliberate lack of actual and useful support from Symantec, in order to rectify the chaos and corruption their ?product? wreaked on my humble home PC. Is this too much to ask for in the ?high? tech world we now inhabit in 2006? No it isn?t! But Symantec is obviously happy to rip off its unwitting customers/victims and make it near impossible to actually get a refund (still waiting?) Oh yes, I followed all the instructions to the letter during installation and set up (as you do!) but I just could not get LiveUpdate to work. After a while and AFTER correctly registering the ?product? I kept getting reminders that I needed to update my subscription with a neat little path to follow telling you to pay XYZ dollars. I wonder how many people accidentally payed again, thinking that maybe that was the reason this heap of rubbish didn?t work. ?Sorry, you?ll need to tell us our CEO?s moms brothers wife?s mother second dogs vets wife?s maiden name and the non existent password before we can process your claim that we double charged you? ok?? Symantec is in my personal humble opinion a fly by night operation and this product nothing more than a cheap prop in the game of fleecing unsuspecting PC owners of their hard earned cash.
