Norton SystemWorks 2002 Professional Edition

"A Robust Collection of Integrated Utilities!"
| Type of Product | User Level | Features |
| Product Analysis | Final Comments | System Requirements |
   
Type of Product

cover

 

Norton SystemWorks 2002 Professional Edition combines several applications into a utility suite that protects your data from viruses and other malicious code; finds and fixes hardware, software, and Windows problems; removes unneeded files; turns your computer into a fax machine; helps you back up your data; and keeps your applications up-to-date. This package is designed for people who want more control over their machines, and the wide and integrated applications offer a robust feature set that helps you keep your computer operating smoothly. The 2002 edition features updated versions of Norton AntiVirus, Norton Utilities, and CleanSweep as well as the addition of GoBack. Symantec hasn't changed the interface that much. All of SystemWorks key tools still are under a launch pad interface--a simple window with links to each of the major tools. All of the utilities have a consistent look and feel, and now the One Button Checkup is schedulable so that you can program checkups which run a wide array of diagnostic and optimization tests on your computer with minimal effort. Bought separately, all the programs included in Norton SystemWorks 2002 (Norton AntiVirus, Norton Utilities, Norton CleanSweep, GoBack 3, Norton Ghost, WinFax Basic Edition, and extra Web services) would cost about $300; bought as a suite they cost $99.95. See Symantec's web site for more information on this utility and other products: http://www.symantec.com

   
User Level
Beginners, intermediate, and advanced computer users. The product has features for users of all levels of expertise. The One Button Checkup is especially designed for novice computer users. The classic power user who actively troubleshoots problems, performs hands-on system maintenance, and controls system performance and optimization will appreciate the robust features of the program.
   
features

 

New and enhanced features:

  • Process Viewer: It enables users to determine utilization of system resources providing a detailed list of all currently running applications.
  • Installation: Streamlined product installation that allows for quick and easy setup on a PC.
  • One Button Checkup: It utilizes Windows task scheduler to offer automated problem assessment on a regular basis without user interaction.
  • GoBack 3 Personal Edition by Roxio: This advanced system recovery tool is for users to easily restore healthy system configurations and lost or damaged data.
  • Virus Protection: Repairs many virus infections automatically in the background.
  • Script Blocking: It detects script-based threats even before new virus definitions are created for them.
  • Windows XP: Support for Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional.
   
Product Analysis

One Button Checkup

This tool runs seven of the most important SystemWorks tools, scans the Registry, and verifies that AntiVirus is on task--all with just a single click from the first screen you see after launching the suite. You can also create rescue disks that let you boot Windows 98 and Me in an emergency or boot with the SystemWorks CD itself.


Norton Utilities

Norton Utilities is probably one of the most important elements in the suite. The set of tests available in Utilities forms the core of the suite's problem solving and optimization features. This element does the following: finds and fixes Windows problems, including software errors and hardware configuration conflicts; optimizes file storage for faster hard drive performance; and detects and repairs hard drive problems. Norton Utilities is not that radically different from the 2001 version. But it does have a cleaned up interface and added support for Windows XP. These fully integrated utilities include: Speed Disk, Norton System Doctor, Norton WinDoctor, Norton Norton Protection, UnErase, Norton Disk Doctor, and Wipe Info.

Norton AntiVirus
The Norton AntiVirus component of systemWorks provides you with smart and easy to use anti-virus protection, designed to work in the background of a system, keeping you protected with minimal interruptions. With a completely redesigned user interface, Norton AntiVirus 2002 provides you with a simple, unobtrusive virus alerting system that stops viruses before they can infect a computer. By default, Norton AntiVirus 2002 automatically repairs virus-infected files and updates virus definitions. New script blocking technology proactively protects against certain known and unknown threats without the need for virus definitions. Common script-based virus threats that arrive via email, such as the renowned "I Love You" and "Anna Kournikova" viruses, are automatically blocked and you are kept alerted to any virus-like malicious behavior. Norton AntiVirus 2002 also scans both inbound and outbound email to prevent email programs from sending or forwarding virus-infected mail, while also seamlessly integrating with Windows Explorer.
Norton CleanSweep

 

 

CleanSweep is a quick and easy way to safely eliminate Internet buildup and other hard drive clutter. It improves PC performance by removing unwanted programs and files while protecting against accidental file deletion. The Internet Sweep feature cleans away debris accumulated by web surfing. Fast and Safe Cleanup automatically removes files that are no longer needed. The Uninstall Wizard provides step-by-step guidance for removing old programs and their associated files.


Norton Ghost

Norton Ghost allows you to back up your computer. It creates an identical copy of your system that you can store away on your hard drive, store to another hard drive, or burn to a CD for safe keeping. The copy is called a ghost, or ghost image. Making a ghost image of your drive is useful for a variety of reasons. You can use it to make backup copies of clean systems that you can load when you want to run benchmark tests, as well as to take snapshots of your systems at various points in time so that when you need to restore to a particular state, you can format your drive and copy in that clone. It's also good for PC gamers who install and uninstall a lot of programs and still need high frame rates in their games. It allows you to make a clean build of your system, ghost it, and then format your drive and reinstall the clean version when your computer becomes too clogged.


GoBack

 

This is a new inclusion in SystemWorks. GoBack 3 Personal Edition from Roxio works much like the Windows Me System Restore feature, allowing you to revert your hard disk to a previous state if it crashes, becomes unbootable, or somehow doesn't function. The version of GoBack included with Norton SystemWorks isn't as robust as the stand-alone version sold by Roxio as a couple of key features are missing. For example, the SystemWorks version won't let you restore individual files or save individual files in their new state when reverting back to an older state. Yet the version bundled with SystemWorks is quite good in what it does.
  WinFax
  WinFax 10.0 Basic Edition is a basic fax program. It includes a brief automated setup process that quickly gets you up and running to send and receive faxes on your PC. It allows you to compose and send professional looking faxes to fax machines; you can also send faxes as email attachments.
   
Final Comments
Norton SystemWorks 2002 is excellent as an upgrade or for new users. With this new version Symantec has integrated all the different elements into a seamless and smooth running program. It's configured to work with Windows Me and Windows XP. It's a robust collection of integrated utilities that truly helps you to keep your computer healthy and optimized.
   
System Requirements

PC:

  • Windows XP Home Edition/Professional: Intel Pentium 233 MHz or higher processor, 128MB of RAM, 165MB of available hard disk space.
  • Windows 2000 Pro: Intel Pentium 133 MHz or higher processor, 64MB of RAM, 190MB available hard disk space.
  • Windows NT Workstation: Intel Pentium 100 MHz or higher processor, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation operating system with Service Pack 6 or higher, 32MB of RAM, 190MB of available hard disk space.
  • Windows Me/98: Intel Pentium 100 MHz or higher processor for Windows 98, Intel Pentium 150 MHz or higher processor for Windows Me, 32MB of RAM, 175MB of available hard disk space.
   
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