Norton

Use Norton Systemworks as it is. The one button cleanup includes the Disk
Cleanup function found in the XP System Tools. You will hear all sorts of
arguments in this newsgroup about the Utilities versus the XP Defragger,
etc. I prefer the XP defragger to Norton but don't use either. Since
defragging is important to performance, I use a third party program,
Diskeeper 9. The only important thing is that you keep the hard drive
reasonably defragged.

Recommendation: You have Systemworks so take advantage of it. Don't
clutter your system with more utilities. Instead focus on good antispyware
and antivirus software. Always shut down your system properly. For the
rest, let XP take care of self-maintenance.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
"newbie" wrote in message
...
I am using Norton Systems Works. I have found their features one button
check up (which does registry scan and its shortcut scan checks for
mismatched or missing programs and file shortcuts) very useful.

The feature Norton Utilities (which have optimize performance and find and
fix problems) is also very useful.
Is their any free alternatives for these features or we can do without
these
features?

Your view in this will be very useful.
TIA.

wrote in message
...
Sharon F wrote:

On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 11:30:07 -0000, Geoff A. wrote:


I've recently been advised via these newsgroups to ditch most aspects
of
Systemworks (possibly excluding the AV) and use win XP's own utilities,
as
well as other free anti spyware and anti adware programs.
Can someone also please advise on Norton Internet security
Professional?
Should I be using this? If I don't, what will protect me from whatever
it
does????
Thanks.


I'm not a fan of Symantec BUT if it's working well for you and it's
already
installed - why not use it?

I never worry about what I "should" be using. Instead I look for
programs
that do what they're supposed to, do it well and that don't cause other
problems with my system. If Symantec is behaving itself on your system,
leave it alone. Trying to remove it could cause another whole world of
woes...

Sharon is SO right!!! When a Norton program goes bad,
just uninstalling it can be a monumental task, involving
pages and pages of printout of instructions, and then
messing with the (ugh) registry.

--
William B. Lurie

Will follow your suggestions and continue with Systemworks, but what is to
be done after that.
Why are you suggesting not to use xp's defragger.
Regards.


"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message
...
Use Norton Systemworks as it is. The one button cleanup includes the Disk
Cleanup function found in the XP System Tools. You will hear all sorts of
arguments in this newsgroup about the Utilities versus the XP Defragger,
etc. I prefer the XP defragger to Norton but don't use either. Since
defragging is important to performance, I use a third party program,
Diskeeper 9. The only important thing is that you keep the hard drive
reasonably defragged.

Recommendation: You have Systemworks so take advantage of it. Don't
clutter your system with more utilities. Instead focus on good
antispyware
and antivirus software. Always shut down your system properly. For the
rest, let XP take care of self-maintenance.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
"newbie" wrote in message
...
I am using Norton Systems Works. I have found their features one button
check up (which does registry scan and its shortcut scan checks for
mismatched or missing programs and file shortcuts) very useful.

The feature Norton Utilities (which have optimize performance and find
and
fix problems) is also very useful.
Is their any free alternatives for these features or we can do without
these
features?

Your view in this will be very useful.
TIA.

wrote in message
...
Sharon F wrote:

On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 11:30:07 -0000, Geoff A. wrote:


I've recently been advised via these newsgroups to ditch most aspects
of
Systemworks (possibly excluding the AV) and use win XP's own
utilities,
as
well as other free anti spyware and anti adware programs.
Can someone also please advise on Norton Internet security
Professional?
Should I be using this? If I don't, what will protect me from
whatever
it
does????
Thanks.


I'm not a fan of Symantec BUT if it's working well for you and it's
already
installed - why not use it?

I never worry about what I "should" be using. Instead I look for
programs
that do what they're supposed to, do it well and that don't cause
other
problems with my system. If Symantec is behaving itself on your
system,
leave it alone. Trying to remove it could cause another whole world
of
woes...

Sharon is SO right!!! When a Norton program goes bad,
just uninstalling it can be a monumental task, involving
pages and pages of printout of instructions, and then
messing with the (ugh) registry.

--
William B. Lurie

In article , ,
newbie says...

I am using Norton Systems Works. I have found their features one button
check up (which does registry scan and its shortcut scan checks for
mismatched or missing programs and file shortcuts) very useful.

The feature Norton Utilities (which have optimize performance and find and
fix problems) is also very useful.
Is their any free alternatives for these features or we can do without these
features?

Your view in this will be very useful.
TIA.

If you know your system well you will find that the "onebutton" fixes
are not all that they are cracked up to be......I would never trust any
program to just "auto" fix anything.......Way back when I used to use
Norton Windoctor I was amazed that the majority of the fixes that were
"auto" suggested had NOTHING to do with the actual program or
path/shortcut corrections...........
But heh, that's my opinion & experience though but also based on fact
when I seen it with my own eyes..........I use a prog called "Registry
First Aid" and find it very useful for what I need it for..........

All is just my opinion..........

I am not saying you shouldn't use it. I am saying I don't use it because I
like its big brother, Diskeeper 9, much better.

The defragger is one of the two most important maintenance utilities (the
other is the backup program) on my computer, so I spent an extra $20 to get
the extra abilities (such as background defragging on an as-needed basis).

The other set of important utilities is the security group. I agree with
others here on an antivirus program and three antispyware programs as a good
plan. I don't go beyond these five programs and I am happy with my system's
performance. Your mileage may vary.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
"newbie" wrote in message
...
Will follow your suggestions and continue with Systemworks, but what is to
be done after that.
Why are you suggesting not to use xp's defragger.
Regards.


"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message
...
Use Norton Systemworks as it is. The one button cleanup includes the
Disk
Cleanup function found in the XP System Tools. You will hear all sorts
of
arguments in this newsgroup about the Utilities versus the XP Defragger,
etc. I prefer the XP defragger to Norton but don't use either. Since
defragging is important to performance, I use a third party program,
Diskeeper 9. The only important thing is that you keep the hard drive
reasonably defragged.

Recommendation: You have Systemworks so take advantage of it. Don't
clutter your system with more utilities. Instead focus on good
antispyware
and antivirus software. Always shut down your system properly. For the
rest, let XP take care of self-maintenance.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
"newbie" wrote in message
...
I am using Norton Systems Works. I have found their features one button
check up (which does registry scan and its shortcut scan checks for
mismatched or missing programs and file shortcuts) very useful.

The feature Norton Utilities (which have optimize performance and find
and
fix problems) is also very useful.
Is their any free alternatives for these features or we can do without
these
features?

Your view in this will be very useful.
TIA.

wrote in message
...
Sharon F wrote:

On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 11:30:07 -0000, Geoff A. wrote:


I've recently been advised via these newsgroups to ditch most
aspects
of
Systemworks (possibly excluding the AV) and use win XP's own
utilities,
as
well as other free anti spyware and anti adware programs.
Can someone also please advise on Norton Internet security
Professional?
Should I be using this? If I don't, what will protect me from
whatever
it
does????
Thanks.


I'm not a fan of Symantec BUT if it's working well for you and it's
already
installed - why not use it?

I never worry about what I "should" be using. Instead I look for
programs
that do what they're supposed to, do it well and that don't cause
other
problems with my system. If Symantec is behaving itself on your
system,
leave it alone. Trying to remove it could cause another whole world
of
woes...

Sharon is SO right!!! When a Norton program goes bad,
just uninstalling it can be a monumental task, involving
pages and pages of printout of instructions, and then
messing with the (ugh) registry.

--
William B. Lurie

"Geoff A." wrote:

I've recently been advised via these newsgroups
to ditch most aspects of Systemworks (possibly
excluding the AV) and use win XP's own utilities,
as well as other free anti spyware and anti
adware programs. (snip)


Well, then you've been advised wrong. There is absolutely nothing wrong
with Norton SystemWorks (or the individual components purchased separately),
as many millions of long-term users can attest. Each of the individual
components, while rarely the very best in the industry, are more than
adequate for most users. Therefore, unless you have a particular reason to
demand more, I suspect the same may be true for you.

And, of course, nothing stops you from also using WinXP's tools when they
serve you better. For example, I use Window's Disk Defragmentor instead of
Norton's because my computer feels slightly faster afterwards, but rely
heavily on Ghost to back up my computer (it has restored my computer twice
with only very minor problems afterward - Microsoft Office had to be
reactivated, for example).

Finally, freeware alternatives are a very mixed bag. Some work well, and
some can cause more harm than good. Likewise, some are updated and supported
well, while others are not. I personally would never comfortably rely on
freeware for the critical, and potentially damaging, activities reliably
handled by SystemWorks (disk backups, virus scans, disk and Windows repairs,
and so on).

One final note. You talked about trashing SystemWorks except for
Anti-Virus. The individual components of SystemWorks cannot be installed
separately and work properly (the documentation mentions this). Instead, if
you actually decide to trash SystemWorks, you would need to purchase the
stand-alone version of Norton Anti-Virus.

Stewart