Symantec/Norton gives you the works
by Alan Zisman
(c) 1999. First
published in Toronto Computes,
September 1999
Symantec Norton SystemWorks 2.0.
Windows 95/98.
$99 (street); $149 (Pro version).
Norton Utilities (now owned by Symantec) has been one
of the classic
utility packages since almost the dawn of the personal computing era,
with
versions for DOS, Macintosh, Windows, and now Windows 95/98. It
forms
the cornerstone of Symantec's SystemWorks suite for Windows 9x-- a
package
bundling almost the complete set of Symantec utilities to provide
complete
system protection, recently upgraded to version 2.0.
The
SystemWorks
box contains complete versions of the newly-updated
Norton
Utilities
4.0 and Norton AntiVirus 5.0, along with Norton CrashGuard
4.0,
and
new to a Symantec package, CleanSweep 4.5 (purchased by
Symantec
from
Quarterdeck).
As
well
as providing all these products, the new version of SystemWorks
integrates
them
far better than the original version did--and far better
than the
competing
McAfee
Office from Network Associates.
A
single
setup program installs all the products, and lets users pick and
choose
between
them. And a single Live Update module upgrades all from
the
Internet.
As
well, Symantec has done a good job of integrating the overlap
between
the
programs--Norton Utilities now uses Norton AntiVirus, rather
than
its
own
more limited anti-virus functions, for example.
New
features
New
to
Norton Utilities 4.0 are a System Check Wizard, Registry-checking
features
in
WinDoctor, and a Connection Doctor, to optimize Internet
activities.
NU
continues to include a wide range of features, from the
classic
Norton
Disk
Doctor and Speed Disk to its powerful low-level Disk Editor.
Norton
AntiVirus
5.0 adds the ability to quarantine suspected files, keeping
them
from
doing harm, and making it easy to send them to Symantec for
analysis.
(When
I had to do this, with a seemingly incurable virus problem,
I
received
response
within 24 hours--including a call back from a technician
who
walked
me through the steps of removing the virus. Well done,
Symantec!)
I
am
less impressed with CrashGuard. Like other products in its class,
I''m
not
convinced
that it actually reduces system crashes. Luckily, you can
choose
not
to install it, or can give it a try, knowing that it can be
easily
removed.
The
new
component in the program is Quarterdeck''s award-winning
CleanSweep,
which
monitors program installation, and can be used to remove
programs
more
reliably than Windows'' built-in routines. In its first
incarnation
in
the
suite, it is less well-integrated than its partners--Norton
Utilities''
Space
Wizard,
for
instance, duplicates some of its functions, and it doesn''t
monitor
updates
through
the Symantec Live Update Pro.
Norton
Web
Services includes a six-month subscription to Live Update Pro,
which
offers
to notify users of updates to all their installed software,
not just
the
Symantec
ones covered by the standard Live Update feature.
Additional
features
are included in SystemWorks 2.0 Pro. This version adds
in
a
copy
of Norton 2000, which tests for Year 2000 compliance. Unlike most
other
programs
in this product category, which are limited to checking
the
system
Bios
and hardware clock, Norton 2000 can also check for problematic
applications
and
fix spreadsheet and database files.
Also
included
in the Pro version is Norton Ghost, for cloning complete
hard
drives.
Both
versions
of the Suite include a Bonus CD, with WinFax Pro 9.0 Lite,
file-encryption
software,
and a version of Symantec''s Visual Page Web-page
development
software.
While useful, there is no attempt to integrate these
into
the
main
suite.
A
lot
of value for the money, perhaps more than most users will need. And
loading
all
these modules can be a drain on system resources--I leave Norton
AntiVirus
running
in the background, but turn off all the Norton Utilities
background
features,
preferring to have them run only when needed. *
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