Customer Reviews

Norton SystemWorks 2005 [AntiVirus, Utilities, GoBack, Check IT]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(37)

 

 

When the virus update subscription expires each year, I generally buy an upgrade to latest version of Norton Systemworks. The modest additional expense is usually justified by the new features provided in the latest version. That decision turned out to be a waste of time and money this year. The first two installation attempts failed, the Password Manager, provided in the 2004 version is gone, and the new features are modest at best.

I upgraded from the 2004 version on my clean and stable system. Systemworks is designed to completely uninstall the previous version before attempting to install the new version. This takes time, and must not have been effective. The installation failed, citing several files that were missing. The web based troubleshooting procedure led me through a complex maze of garden paths, wild goose chases, and frustrating dead ends. Although the second installation attempt never completed, upon reboot the system seemed to work. This installation took about 3 hours.

I enjoyed the Password Manager feature from the 2004 version. A cryptic message during installation announced that my password manager was being removed. The message went on to give incorrect information regarding how to restore it. Eventually I was able to get it restored.

Also, keep in mind that installing the new version can cut short any remaining time on your existing subscription. My subscription was due to expire in November. Last year when I installed the new system, the subscription was extended for one year from the installation date, not the expiration date. So now the subscription ends in October, a month short. (This comment reflects my experience with the 2004 version. With the subscription cut short, it ran out before I installed the 2005 version.)

Now that the system is working I am wondering what I got for my time and trouble. The new features are modest at best. If you have the 2004 version installed, I recommend you stay with it. 2005 turns out to be an odd year for this product.

I gave Symantec an opportunity to comment on the accuracy of this review. In response the Product Manager called me, discussed my concerns, promised to provide technical support, and provided this written comment: "Based on the information [this reviewer] provided us, the installation issues he encountered appear to be an isolated issue. We are putting him in touch with Symantec technical support to investigate the issue further".

I've had Norton products on my computers for over 10 years. And for most of those 10 years have experienced no problems whatsoever. Since the 2003 and 2004 version of this software program I have experienced SEVERE slowing down of my computer, hanging up of my computer when trying to shut it down, and prolonged start up times ALL of which were cured when I took this bloated software off my computer.

I'm not a software designer or a computer expert but am reasonably adept and skilled on the computer and can for the most part fix nearly every problem I encounter. I don't understand exactly WHY removing Norton solved my problems but I can tell you this: My computer has NEVER run so well and with so few problems. No crashes, no hanging up on shut down or start up, and lightening quick responsiveness once again.

The problems caused by this Norton program flummoxed me for about 6 months before I finally isolated Norton as the culprit. At first I rejected out of hand that a company as legendary and well regarded as Norton could be at the root of my problems, but decided out of frustration to delete the program and see how it impacted the multiple problems I was having.

Low and behold my problems miraculously vanished! I couldn't believe it! My daughter who had problems on start up worse than mine balked too at removing this program from her laptop but also discovered that the removal of Norton solved HER problems as well.

I told one of my employees what I'd discovered and he too deleted the program only to see all of his multiple problems disappear! He told me that he simply couldn't believe how good his computer was once again functioning.

I've replaced Norton System Works with Trend Micro's PC-Cillin and Zone Alarm both of which are highly regarded.

If you are having unexplained problems with your computer that your anti-virus program and spyware programs are not solving and if you have this bloated pig of a program on your computer then you need to delete it.

Should you upgrade? Well, kind of, I tend always upgrade to the latest from Symantec. For this version I only recommend that you upgrade to "Norton Anti-virus 2005", the programs from Symantec such as System Works and Utilities are just the same, no major differences except for a more sleeker interface and the obvious bloat of it. Doesn't even include features your getting for free in Windows like a FireWall, which comes free with SP2 for Windows XP. The introduction of technology such as Activation was not smooth, and caused a lot of headaches which only makes the product less embracing than it use to be.

Symantec needs focus on areas such as Speed, Seamless Integration with Windows, obviously it has lost it. My next purchase from Symantec won't be in the retail line, but from Enterprise space. The Corporate Edition of Norton Antivirus, it offers all the tools I want for protecting my PC, yes it cost a lot and its targetted towards the Large Networks, but it is so subtle and easy to use and it does not bog down your PC.

So, should you upgrade?
If recently purchased System Works 2004 or Norton 2004 or any of the Symantec line of products at least wait until your one year subscription is up. Because that's what you buy a utility program for, to keep updated against the latest attacks.

I have had all their releases going back to the 90's, but after the fiasco of trying to load the NSW 2005 Premier edition, I will no longer buy their products. Also, I am recommending to my company that uses the AV product to dump it too.

This product has so many problems and bugs that a lawsuit should be brought against Symantec.

I went to this product on Symantec's recommedation (yes I stayed on the phone 3 1/2 hours waiting for a human voice at their Help Desk, I even had a priority number) after their Common Client (NSW 2004)live update in December caused major problems with my PC. I thought it was a problem with my PC (DELL XPS, XPSP2, 2G) and called Dell Support Desk who told me it was NSW 2004 problem. Dell recommended that I go with McAffee instead of Norton. Dell has be hearing that there are a lot of problems with the 2004 and 2005 products.

Don't buy this product, and Amazon should not offer it because it is so bad.

I purchased this product, having using earlier versions and been completely satisfied. I presntly use Norton Systemworks 2003 and have discarded their 2005 version. Their programs are no longer integrated and each program, in multiple parts, needs to contact Symantec (parent org) with statistical info or what ever it is that your computer is revealing to them? I downloaded a trial version of 2006 Systemworks, think it's nothing more than 2005 with a few more added bugs? Norton Systemworks 2003 was the Symantec's last actual attempt at upgrading their product, save your money and invest in, much cheaper too, I may add, that version.

I bought systemworks back in November and I still haven't been able to activate the product. Activating a product is something that you normally take for granted. Usually it's as simple as entering in a license key and you're product is instantly registered and working. Well for me, even after 80 hours on the phone with Norton support, uninstalling and reinstalling the product, cleaning out my registry, installing other product copies, and removing dsl and router firewalls I still can't activate my product! This is absolutely unbelievable! I'm a computer engineer and not a technophobe. How can a company sell a product that cannot be activated? Certainly this issue should have shown up during product QA! Judging by the amount of complaints of this product, I'm not in the minority here. In case this is a causing factor with the installation, I use SBC DSL, and a NetGear router and wouldn't recommend Systemworks 2005 for anyone with this setup.

UPDATE - 10/19/04: Well, the other reviewers are RIGHT! 72 hours later, Norton Systemworks 2005 started doing the EXACT same things as Norton Internet Security 2004. All I can say is any home version of Norton ANYTHING is DEFECTIVE. Do not buy. Try McAffee or some of the other products recommended in the Norton 2004 Internet Security reviews (almost 300 reviews). We were able to obtain a company Norton Corporate Antivirus Edition and we uninstalled Norton Systemworks 2005 and installed the Norton Corporate edition (not available for sale over the counter). So far so good. I use my company's corporate edition at work and it's flawless, but it's just Antivirus - no firewall or utilities, which we don't need. I've never had a problem at work and the Corporate edition at home is GREAT so far. But, if we couldn't have obtained the Corporate edition, we would NOT EVEN HAVE CONSIDERED ANOTHER HOME VERSION NORTON PRODUCT. Fact is Norton is TROUBLE. We'd have probably tried McAffee, but I hear the same problems plaque McAffee "full" versions too. I hear Norton Professional that you can buy over the counter for more money than the home version is pretty good. That's just what I've heard. Good Luck.

Norton Internet Security/AntiVirus 2004 Home came PRELOADED on our new computer 3 months ago. From day one, we had severe hangups, crashes, ridiculously slow, and we got constant error messages saying "Windows Virtual Memory Low" popping up followed by crashes, reboots, shutdowns that took forever due to continual messages that "ccApp.exe Program is running" which is a Norton AV program. Needless to say, we were leary of trying any more Norton products although we've used Norton for years, including Norton Internet Security 2003 which worked fine. Note that Norton Corporate and Professional 2004 versions seem to be fine from what I've experienced. A techie friend recommended SystemWorks 2005.

After completely uninstalling ALL of evil Norton Internet Security/AV 2004 and loading this brand new, Norton SystemWorks 2005, our computer is 100% better - functioning like a new 2.8Mz Pentium4, 256RAM computer should! We immediately used the "One-Button" fix feature which corrected thousands of errors. Granted, we've only used this product for 2 days, but so far it's great! I'll be sure to update this review if we begin to experience problems. I wonder if the other reviewers are referring to Norton AV2004 which is completely terrible. I sure hope so. Because if our computer starts acting up again, I'm done with Norton products forever. However, I think our computer will be fine. I honestly think it was specific to the home version of Norton Internet Security package 2004, not the corporate or professional 2004 editions. Regardless of this, Norton online or telephone support is completely pathetic! They don't even acknowledge a problem with Norton AV2004 at all. Terrible.

I read all the negative reviews and ordered anyway, because I've always protected my computers with Norton products and it was time to renew. Holy cow. I apologize for assuming you were all idiots who just couldn't follow installation instructions. The BEST I've been able to debug now leaves me with three ambiguous error messages to cancel every time I start my computer. "Norton does not support the repair feature. Please uninstall and reinstall the program." OK. WHAT program (times three)? I've uninstalled and reinstalled all the Norton components to no avail. I've uninstalled and reinstalled all my Office 2003 programs to no avail. I don't want my money back. I don't even want my wasted time back. But I'd sure like to have my computer back. Thanks to Norton, Outlook now downloads at least 10 copies of each e-mail from my server, and all my programs run so slowly I feel like I'm back at the keyboard of my first 286!

I've had home computers since the Timex Sinclair in 1982. The only time I've been forced to reformat my hard drive was a couple years ago after install problems with System Works 2002. I bought 2005 from buy.com because it was $64 with $64 rebates for upgrading. Free but not worth it.

I installed 2005 over 2005 that came installed on a new desktop. The pre-installed version had a virus update subscription that was to expire 12/5/05. After installing from the CD and registering I could not update my virus definitions as my "subscription" had expired instead of being extended 12 months as it should have been.

Now after a few attempts at uninstalling and re-installing, using the advice and programs from Symantec's web site the program is installed but won't run. At times it has seemed to keep unrelated programs from running.

If you do try to install this software be sure to have the backups and recovery points ready.

I've been using Norton's Systems Works and Firewall for years and have been very happy with them up till now. Already 2004's versions gave me problems and I could not install easily. I had constant automatic shut downs. Tech help was WORTHLESS! I finally had to reformat my computer and then everything worked fine. Now 2005's version is even worse. I could not install either Systems Works or the Firewall without my computer constantly shutting down during install. Finally, I had to do their fix of completely deleting all remenants of any Norton products. I did a reinstall of SW and my computer did not shut down, but not everything installed. I also managed to get the firewall installed as well. But since then, I've had constant problems again with my computer shutting down and then reboot problems when I try to run antivirus, or other Norton applications. I also keep getting error messages that some file is missing. Tech help was once again, completely worthless. I give up! This product, the tech help and also their rebate problems (I always have to call up about one of my rebates), all make for a crappy experience. I'm going to reinstall SW 2002, which had all the features I wanted, but I will switch to Alarm Zone for my antivirus and firwall needs.