- Average user rating:
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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25 out of 30 people found this review helpful
0.5 stars
"NIS 2007 itself, the worst virus my system has experienced..."
Pros: None to report
Cons: Product installation crippled my computer, support was innefffective, de-installation leaves me with unresolved problems
Summary: This is my first public review of any product. I generally dont have the time or motivation to go throught the process of posting a review. However, I have never had such a negative experience with a commercially available software package before. From beginning to end, the process of repeated attempts to install and then trying to remove NIS2007 was time-consuming, frustrating, and crippled my computer.
First the operating environment details. I'm running XP-Pro SP2 on a 2.6ghz pentium with 1GB of RAM.
Upon the de-installation of the existing NIS 2006 and Spyware Doctor applications, I proceeded with the installation of NIS 2007. The installation appeared to go cleanly, but upon attempting to restart, my computer hung on shutting down, and upon attempting to come up, I got a blank desktop with no task bar, start menu, or desktop icons. Later, as I was working with Symantec support and was able to get a desktop back, I also experienced things as not being able to bring up the control panel or click on the 'My Computer' icon. Of course, I had no internet access during the whole ordeal.
Since I couldnt find any phone number contact in the ridiculously minimal instruction manual that came with the package, I called my local ISP to find out what they knew about the affects of using NIS 2007. Through them I got a phone number for Symantec support. As a side note, the manual points out ways to get support if you have access to the internet and email, but gives no direction if you dont have access to those.
Over the course of the next 4 days of working through my issues with NIS 2007, my experience with Symantec support left me with the impression that they were mostly incompetent and quite innefective. I give Symantec credit for having 24/7 phone support, and I did work with one knowledgable support person there named Jay, but most of the experience was frustrating and time-consuming. The help desk is located in India, and the first problem is that they couldnt hear me though I was speaking loudly. The next problem is that I had to answer the same questions repeatedly as if the person didnt understand my answers. On a number of ocassions, I felt the person on the other end was just going through a script, and wasnt listening to what I was saying or reading my growing case notes. I got passed around a lot to different people and spent a lot of time on hold. They kept trying to get me off the phone even though we hadnt worked through the problem completely. In one instance, the helpdesk person was trying to tell me that things were all fixed even when I had told her there was an activation error during the re-install we were working on.
Having worked with tech support and edited registries, and tinkered with start-up configurations and various services settings, I could never get NIS 2007 to install (tried four times). Trying to un-install the package turned out to be almost as difficult and troublesome. Uninstalling has left me with problems with my computer I have yet to work out. I still cant use my scanner because it complains about a symantec DLL issue. I have no idea why that would be.
The CNET site warns me that assigning a '1' is an extreme action. Based on what I've experienced, I would rate this product less than zero if I could. There was nothing that went right, and a lot that went wrong. Having tried to install this program only caused harm to my system which I'm still trying to undo. I cant believe Symantec could put out such a pathetic piece of software with such inffective support. I'm returning NIS 2007 and trying my luck with Zone Alarm.
- 10 replies to this review
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I agree, sometimes it is difficult to install Norton Internet Security, but I found after installing this product on many, many systems, it is best to use Norton's Product Removal Tool FIRST! You can find this tool on Symantec's website by going to http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039?OpenDocument
Download and run this program which will erase all old pieces of Norton products so that you will be able to do a clean and easy install of your new Norton Internet Security product.
In my opinion, I believe that Norton is the BEST for Internet Security protection and as a computer technician I only recommend and use Norton Internet Security products. Now I do not like Norton 360, by that is a entirely different review. Just stick with the Norton Internet Security 2007 and now 2008 for XP and Vista! -
Some people are better off getting their antivirus software preinstalled and just renewing the license every year. Wait until you buy a new computer to get the new software package next time.
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I hoped they would fix performance issues in 2008, but it is more garbage like 2007. What is wrong Symantec? Did you farm out a new version to some Indian programmers group?
Please someone tell us why? And when it will be a product again? How about an easy downgrade to 2006 with updates for it? -
I have it installed on Windows XP Pro. The only way to use some of the Windows Components (format, add/remove software, etc.) is to turn off ALL of NIS 2007 "Protection". The second I turn the NIS 2007 "protection" back on, the Windows issues re-appear. According to Symantec, the problems are with Microsoft, not them. Funny thing is, I didn't have any of these issues prior to installing NIS 2007.
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I've had very similar problems as the reviewer. Albeit I was able to get it running, NIS2007 slowed down computer performance to a crawl. The system would hang when changing between user profiles. Now I use BitDefender, which doesn't affect PC performance. I'm never using a Symantec product again.
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that I did upon installation of NIS2007/Systemworks. I hope Symantec reads your message and the others. I just made a request for a refund. This upgrade vs renewal was a NIGHTMARE. Thanks for your review. I should have read it before I went through it!
P.S. I also began having problems with Internet Explorer 7 "script errors". Is this a coincidence that it happened all of a sudden, as well????? -
I spoke with a tech and he told me to go to www.symantec.com/symnrt and download their removal tool instead of the uninstall feature in the program. It seemed to work well for me.
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I've had similar problems. Have uninstalled and re-installed multiple times and still do not have security/anti-virus installed. I will go buy a different product.... Never buy NIS 2007 unless you want to have computer problems.
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I've had exactly the same experience with NIS 2007 installed on a pc I've been asked to "sort out". The owner had upgraded from 2006 & now regrets it. Bootup takes ages, email erratic, Word unloadable, and everything takes ages. Whole pc has been ruined & seriously thinking of throwing it all away & starting afresh with a complete fdisk & reinstalling all applications EXCEPT NIS 2007. Can't believe how NIS 2007 has slowed whole pc down despite having a good spec & 1gb of RAM. People should be very wary of installing this product.
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Agree 100%! Very bad software
