Norton Systemworks Pro 2003 Are there useful tools

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OK, maybe it’s hard to answer this question but any input is appreciated.

What are you’re experiences of Norton Systemworks Professional 2003? There are several included tools; Anti-virus, Cleansweep, Ghost, Utilities, GoBack, Web Cleanup etc.

What I would like to know is if there are any really good and useful tools that can come handy with Windows XP.

First: I will not use GoBack, so that feature is of no interest.
Sec: I don’t know if I like Norton Anti-virus, I have been using other AV over the years, OK there are AV products that are really bad, NAV is not one of them. I suppose it is individual preferences here.

So are there any useful tools for Disk, registry etc. that work well with Windows XP? (And that doesn’t become a real pain if you try to uninstall them.)

TIA

Regards,

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I used, and still use on some systems, this software suite. It is an incremental upgrade over SW2002, but it is polished and works well. I particularly like the WinDoctor component for cleaning up bad shortcuts and its registry check. CleanSweep is a decent tool although I admit that I do not use it often. Perhaps the nicest thing about this suite is the one-button checkup that allows you to run all of you maintenance tasks on a schedule. The automatic LiveUpdate is also a nice touch.

I tend not to use SpeedDisk because I prefer Diskeeper, but it is a good tool regardless. Ditto for GoBack; I use another piece of software and it would be duplicated functionality. Web Cleanup irritates me because it wipes out cookies, so I disable that as well. But all in all, this is a very solid and complete software package for the maintenance of a computer.

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Mark,
I have to admit that I have not looked so much to the different tools, read about them, and what they do. So I now understand that this Windoctor can be useful. SpeedDisk is a some defrag tool?

Well, before ev. installing anything I first wanted to check with you here at Lounge. I have read so much, I admit only briefly; about trouble with Norton this or Norton that. Either a conflict or something else. And I certainly don’t like programs that almost are impossible to uninstall and get rid of. Thus my questions. I do understand that many people, depending where on earth, like NAV.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Regards,

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Argus,

I would second Mark’s remarks. I also like Win Doctor and use Clean Sweep daily. I won’t install or use GoBack either. And I also use Diskeeper Pro for my defrag utility rather than Speed Disk, although before going to Diskeeper, I did use Speed Disk for years and found it far superior to the default Windows defragger. Norton Ghost is a respectable system backup utility, although I now use True Image 6.0 which I much prefer. Yes, I really like NAV.

All and all, Norton SystemWorks 2003 PRO is a good suite. And, you can buy OEM copies online for as little as $10 U.S. At that price, you can’t lose.

Jeff

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Argus,

I would second Mark’s remarks. I also like Win Doctor and use Clean Sweep daily. I won’t install or use GoBack either. And I also use Diskeeper Pro for my defrag utility rather than Speed Disk, although before going to Diskeeper, I did use Speed Disk for years and found it far superior to the default Windows defragger. Norton Ghost is a respectable system backup utility, although I now use True Image 6.0 which I much prefer. Yes, I really like NAV.

All and all, Norton SystemWorks 2003 PRO is a good suite. And, you can buy OEM copies online for as little as $10 U.S. At that price, you can’t lose.

Jeff

Reply | Quote

Mark,
I have to admit that I have not looked so much to the different tools, read about them, and what they do. So I now understand that this Windoctor can be useful. SpeedDisk is a some defrag tool?

Well, before ev. installing anything I first wanted to check with you here at Lounge. I have read so much, I admit only briefly; about trouble with Norton this or Norton that. Either a conflict or something else. And I certainly don’t like programs that almost are impossible to uninstall and get rid of. Thus my questions. I do understand that many people, depending where on earth, like NAV.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Regards,

Reply | Quote

I used, and still use on some systems, this software suite. It is an incremental upgrade over SW2002, but it is polished and works well. I particularly like the WinDoctor component for cleaning up bad shortcuts and its registry check. CleanSweep is a decent tool although I admit that I do not use it often. Perhaps the nicest thing about this suite is the one-button checkup that allows you to run all of you maintenance tasks on a schedule. The automatic LiveUpdate is also a nice touch.

I tend not to use SpeedDisk because I prefer Diskeeper, but it is a good tool regardless. Ditto for GoBack; I use another piece of software and it would be duplicated functionality. Web Cleanup irritates me because it wipes out cookies, so I disable that as well. But all in all, this is a very solid and complete software package for the maintenance of a computer.

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Argus,
I have been using Systemworks ever since it first came out as a package of utilities a few years ago. I do use MOST of it’s features but not all. I don’t use Ghost because I use True Image. The utilities I do use regularly, mostly Win Doctor & Disk Doctor. The AV is very good. ( I think ). Cleansweep is OK for quick cleanouts and uninstalls. Unlike Mark, I don’t like the one click fix feature, since I don’t always agree with their recommended fixes. I prefer a manual fix, where I look at what it’s found and make my own decision as what to do with each one.

Generally speaking though , I think it’s a very good and useful utility. Particularly when you can buy the OEM CD for $4.95 (US) at SOFTWAREYARD

Lots of other good OEM stuff there also. I just got Nero Burning V6.0 there for $4.50 (US).

Bob

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Bob,
OK, Win Doctor and Disk Doctor, I will take a look at those and some others. Regarding back up /Image program; over the last ten years I have had my thoughts if I need a back up program or not, funny actually. I mean I have for me valuable Excel files hundreds, documents, thesis work etc. But I have until now copied individual files to CD/CD-RW, and have not so far found any need for complete disk images. There is of course people who like to reset their system with an image file in under 2 minutes. However if I understand Ghost in 2003 correct, it can restore individual files in NTFS, but not update the image file. But on the other hand I don’t know anything about back up images, maybe it’s not possible to update a image file.

Thanks for your input

Regards,

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Argus,

I can see your hesitation in going the backupImage route because you feel you haven’t had the NEED to do that. BUT, all it takes is one bad virus, one HD failure, one flakey piece of OS component and ALL of your years of work and effort will be GONE. ( probably ) I can just picture you trying so hard to kick yourself in the you know where, because you didn’t backup your important files. Even ONE backupimage will at least bring you up to date as of the time of failure.

I’m no great fan of Insurance of all kinds, ( life, health, auto etc. ) but I sure DO have it. Please do yourself a BIG favor and insure your valuable files with a backup or Image. “You’ll be glad you did” as the saying goes.

Bob

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And there is another saying as well: there are two types of computer users, those who have lost all of their data, and those who will.

Sound advice.

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Jeff, Bob, Mark,
Thanks for comments. Yes, someday there will data that goes ,,, Well, for the moment I have to go through 200 floppy disks as well, that may or not have data and not only obsolete programs etc. There we have a great risk, old floppy disks. OK, for the moment is not any big part of my data back on the machine since my re-install in October, I have the data files on CD’s as mentioned. So there is no big need of a back up image now, would only copy my programs and some files of minor interest. Maybe if I find a way to back up certain directories/files.

Making an image of the HD and copy it to CD’s seems, hmmm, well I mean it could take many CD’s. OK I can see the benefit; if you have an image of the HD you can quickly restore the structure, programs and data without install, configure, patches, patches, patches … Actually as I think of it, the only thing, for the moment, that I really don’t like to reinstall is all the patches. So maybe will take a look at some image back up programs. I have read several of the treads lately on the topic of back up, and we don’t need to start one here.

All this talk about back up reminds me of when I worked as a young consultant 13-15 years ago. As the youngest, I also had to take care of computer maintenence (2 XT and 1 AT (small office)), beside installing software, I also did the back up. ~20 floppy disks for each machine (20 MB HD), that we then put in a safe-deposit box.

Regards,

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Argus,

I have no idea how much HD space is currently being used on my machine, but to give you an idea of how this works, I have about 6 gigs of used space on my 40 gig HD. Using True Image 6.0, I do a complete backup to five10x CD-RW disks in approximately 35 minutes. Of course, if you have another HD, the backup process would talk less than half that time.

Let me make two other comments: 1) Before doing regular (weekly) backups of my HD, I went through 2 major crashes (I do Beta testing) and had to restore everything…. I mean EVERYTHING each time. It took me a full 72 hours of work. And each time I kicked myself as we all do when this happens. All the little tweaks, customizations, etc., that had been gathered and done were the most difficult aspect of the manual restoration process. NEVER, never again do I want to have to go through all that again. 2) Acronis True Image has just released Version 7.0 on their site here: Acronis True Image 7.0. It would be worth your while to take a look at this premier backup application.

Jeff

Reply | Quote

Argus,

I have no idea how much HD space is currently being used on my machine, but to give you an idea of how this works, I have about 6 gigs of used space on my 40 gig HD. Using True Image 6.0, I do a complete backup to five10x CD-RW disks in approximately 35 minutes. Of course, if you have another HD, the backup process would talk less than half that time.

Let me make two other comments: 1) Before doing regular (weekly) backups of my HD, I went through 2 major crashes (I do Beta testing) and had to restore everything…. I mean EVERYTHING each time. It took me a full 72 hours of work. And each time I kicked myself as we all do when this happens. All the little tweaks, customizations, etc., that had been gathered and done were the most difficult aspect of the manual restoration process. NEVER, never again do I want to have to go through all that again. 2) Acronis True Image has just released Version 7.0 on their site here: Acronis True Image 7.0. It would be worth your while to take a look at this premier backup application.

Jeff

Reply | Quote

Jeff, Bob, Mark,
Thanks for comments. Yes, someday there will data that goes ,,, Well, for the moment I have to go through 200 floppy disks as well, that may or not have data and not only obsolete programs etc. There we have a great risk, old floppy disks. OK, for the moment is not any big part of my data back on the machine since my re-install in October, I have the data files on CD’s as mentioned. So there is no big need of a back up image now, would only copy my programs and some files of minor interest. Maybe if I find a way to back up certain directories/files.

Making an image of the HD and copy it to CD’s seems, hmmm, well I mean it could take many CD’s. OK I can see the benefit; if you have an image of the HD you can quickly restore the structure, programs and data without install, configure, patches, patches, patches … Actually as I think of it, the only thing, for the moment, that I really don’t like to reinstall is all the patches. So maybe will take a look at some image back up programs. I have read several of the treads lately on the topic of back up, and we don’t need to start one here.

All this talk about back up reminds me of when I worked as a young consultant 13-15 years ago. As the youngest, I also had to take care of computer maintenence (2 XT and 1 AT (small office)), beside installing software, I also did the back up. ~20 floppy disks for each machine (20 MB HD), that we then put in a safe-deposit box.

Regards,

Reply | Quote

And there is another saying as well: there are two types of computer users, those who have lost all of their data, and those who will.

Sound advice.

Reply | Quote

Argus,

I can see your hesitation in going the backupImage route because you feel you haven’t had the NEED to do that. BUT, all it takes is one bad virus, one HD failure, one flakey piece of OS component and ALL of your years of work and effort will be GONE. ( probably ) I can just picture you trying so hard to kick yourself in the you know where, because you didn’t backup your important files. Even ONE backupimage will at least bring you up to date as of the time of failure.

I’m no great fan of Insurance of all kinds, ( life, health, auto etc. ) but I sure DO have it. Please do yourself a BIG favor and insure your valuable files with a backup or Image. “You’ll be glad you did” as the saying goes.

Bob

Reply | Quote

Bob,
OK, Win Doctor and Disk Doctor, I will take a look at those and some others. Regarding back up /Image program; over the last ten years I have had my thoughts if I need a back up program or not, funny actually. I mean I have for me valuable Excel files hundreds, documents, thesis work etc. But I have until now copied individual files to CD/CD-RW, and have not so far found any need for complete disk images. There is of course people who like to reset their system with an image file in under 2 minutes. However if I understand Ghost in 2003 correct, it can restore individual files in NTFS, but not update the image file. But on the other hand I don’t know anything about back up images, maybe it’s not possible to update a image file.

Thanks for your input

Regards,

Reply | Quote