Customer Reviews

Norton SystemWorks 2008 Standard Edition 11.0

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I've been using Norton products for over 15 years. When I tried to install Systemworks 2008 Standard from CD, I got the install screen, clicked on install, and...nothing. After going on-line and wading through the Symantec support menus, I finally found out that you had to uninstall any previous version prior to installing this one. No where in the skimpy installation manual that came with the product does it say this. After downloading the uninstall tool, running it, rebooting, and attempting the install again, Systemworks was working. I then tried to install AntiVirus, but about 90% of the way through the installation it aborted and said it had "encountered a problem". A link was provided to Symantec, but when chose my product (Systemworks 2008 Standard) all I got was a blank page.

So I ran the uninstall tool again. This time when it was done, I checked the Symantec directory under Program Files and found it was still there and contained several files. I deleted them, ran the uninstall tool again, and rebooted. This time I installed AntiVirus first, then Systemworks, and it all worked fine.

I don't see why Symantec couldn't have this product search for and uninstall previous versions, or at least provide the uninstall tool on the CD.

I am a loyal Norton user. I've used Norton SystemWorks (NSW) for many years, and have been consistently happy. I'm running Vista Ultimate on a great computer (Pentium D Processor 940 at 3.2 Ghz, 4 GB RAM). I downloaded NSW from Symantec's web site, but it won't install. After expasperting sessions with "English as a second language" tech support, I was finally able to install the software. After running several of the "check/fix routines" on NSW, many other programs did not work. I had to reinstall at least five different programs. I'm back to normal, thanks to back-ups I made on an external hard drive before installing NSW. But, I am afraid to run the "check/fix routines" on NSW again until (or if) they fix the glitches.

I've been using Norton SystemWorks Basic for many years and have been very happy with the way it functions on Windows XP. After reading other reviews, I decided to first delete my old SystemWorks 2006 before attempting the installation of the new CD SystemWorks Standard Edition, v11.

About 2/3 of the way through the deletion, I got an error message saying that the deletion was aborted. This was time consuming, and unfortunately predictable. The Error message directed me to the Symantec Website to download their Uninstall Tool. Deletion of the old program using this Symantec Uninstall Tool then went very smoothly. I agree with the disappointment expressed by a previous reviewer. Symantec should make this product to include an Uninstall Tool on the CD, or better yet have an automatic uninstall of previous versions as a part of the new installation process.

The good news is that the installation of both the new SystemWorks and the Antivirus programs went without a hitch and they are working great. These two segments have been separated in the new software installation, resulting in their own separate desktop icons. This separation surprised me, but they do the job. I am very happy with this newest version of SystemWorks. The Standard Version also catches and removes spyware and adware. I'd give 5 stars for the functioning of Systemworks Standard Edition, v.11, but give only 3 stars for the problems related to deletion and installation. Overall, I'm awarding four stars to this product.

I have used Norton for the past 20 years, but no more. I took my CD out of the box, but it did not work.

I contacted Symantec live chat and got the technician 'Sreedevi' who said that he could take control of my computer and install the program, however, I need a custom install and need the CD. I was refused, I asked for a manager and was told he was out on 'emergency' so I am out the bucks with no program. I will never, ever buy a Norton product again, there is no customer service not even for faulty software.

This is a time when product reviews helped me avoid the pitfalls that plagued fellow reviewers. Had you good folks not commented on the product I would probably be beating my head against the wall trying to get it to work.

Based on what the rest of you said I removed my old Systemworks before doing the install. I used the Add/Remove program in Control Panel to make sure that everything was deleted. And you are right Norton doesn't even tell us to uninstall and that info really helped me avoid a major headache. One comment I wanted to share was I tried to download the upgrade from home and I'm on dialup. It's a huge program of about 125 MB so I would recommend that if you had a wireless laptop you head to Starbucks or some local free wifi, grab yourself a drink and a croissant or donut and find a comfy chair. Trying to download it at home on Dial Up it took several hours to get it just half way. The good thing is the download manager let me pick up where I left off. I headed to my nearest laundromat that offers free wifi and finished the job.

I actually like the product so far, but I do think Norton needs to include information on uninstalling old versions first and I sure as heck would have appreciated it if they had told me how big the download would be.

Eartlink still lives for some of us, but that's a whole other nightmare I won't bore you with. You really need a high speed connection for this kind of software. I can't wait for FIOS!

There are so many things wrong with Norton System Works that it's very
difficult to know where to begin. But here are three:

1) ACTIVATION: The most annoying. Companies resort to this because
otherwise people would be handing disks out to all their friends and
family. Norton's is particularly aggravating and chances are you'll end up talking to someone at Symantec. If you get the product, install it and don't think about upgrading your computer.

2) INSTABILITY: Decide you don't like it? Removing it requires a number of reboots and manual deletion of files and folders. You'll also have to go into the registry and remove the sloppy leftovers. Yuck.

3) RESOURCES: Taxes your system's resources. Instead of buying a suite, get a defragger, get a registry cleaner, and get them without the pesky activation. These things are designed by committee. My System Works didn't even recognize my Symantec anti-virus, and it's made by the same company. Imagine that!

If you MUST have a suite, System Mechanic is probably the best.

I've had to reformat my computer several times and each time I either get Norton Go Back to work, or the other diagnostics, but not both at the same time. A technician tried to help me online, but was unable. He told me someone would contact me the next day to resolve. That was months ago. It is still unresolved.
Norton does not seem to care about ensuring that its products work properly and this is one of the reasons I may be switching to a Mac for my next computer.

I did read several of the reviews about this Norton product, BUT I have used Norton since the beginning with no problems. WELL... I am computer literate. I struggled with this ridiculous piece of junk for an hour. I had to go the the web site to get the total uninstall program and then go step by step, reboot by reboot. and then it still does not work right. Can you imagine such a piece of junk bearing your name on it and you call yourself a professional product? PLEASE do NOT BUY this edition. EVER. wait and maybe Norton will get back to releasing quality software that performs. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Bill

2nd version I have used of this product. I like it and it works well. Can be a pain to install. I had to call customer service and they took control of my computer. Took them over an hour to install. Very efficient and friendly customer service.

For anyone considering buying the Symantec Norton SystemWorks product, I would advise them to consider these failures of the product and support.

In Feb. 2008, I contacted Symantec by chat because my Norton SystemWorks subscription had expired and a "subscription expired" alert was displaying every 30 seconds. When I chose Renew inside the product, as documented, the Live Update dialog was displayed instead of the Renewal Center panel. I waited for the chat through the 67 customers who were ahead of me. In the chat session, the technician could not make renewal work inside the product and eventually sent me a link to the Symantec site to renew, which I did. The product continued to display the subscription expired alert. The technician suggested a couple of options to stop the alert, which did not work. One of the options would have terminated the chat, which I told him when a message was displayed that indicated this. The technician was still in the process of trying to stop the alert messages when the chat connection was lost and the chat terminated. I was left with subscription alerts popping up every 30 seconds after I had resubscribed, and after rebooting.

When I resubscribed, I noticed that the "Subscription Service" date inside the product on the antivirus status screen was 5/9/2008 instead of one year later, 2/13/2009. From reading tech tips on the site, I determined that when I renewed, the system date was 5/9/2008. I corrected the system date, and the alert messages stopped.

But I still had this problem: How do I reset the Subscription Service date inside SystemWorks to the correct date (2/13/2009) so that it does not expire in May and I have to try to contact tech support again? After the chat which was disconnected, I submitted the question to tech support by e-mail. After several days had passed with no response, I confirmed that no Symantec mail had been blocked as spam, then resubmitted the question twice. Although e-mail response is committed to 96 hours, I have received no response 36 days after the original incident date.

I feel that this combination of failures of product, technical support by chat, and technical support by e-mail is noteworthy, even today when technical support routinely ranges from poor to abusive.