Norton SystemWorks Reviewer's Comments

Norton SystemWorks 2008 from Symantec is good PC System Utilities software, but the program is missing key features, has complicated installation and navigation, and a high price tag.

Ease of Use:  

This software comes bundled with several other programs; although Norton SystemWorks 2008 is easy to navigate, adjusting to five additional navigation layouts as you switch from program to program is difficult.

Ease of Setup:  

The first time we tried installing Norton SystemWorks, we received an error that shut our computer down. Although our second attempt was successful, Norton SystemWorks is not simple to install; requiring us to go through several update checks and to restart our computer at least four times in the process.

Maintenance/Diagnostics:  

Norton SystemWorks offers many maintenance and diagnostic tools including a Quick Status screen, a process blocker and the ability to clear Internet activities.

This software also has a One-Button Checkup that does a Windows Registry Scan, a Program Integrity Scan, a Virus Definition and Last Virus Scan Check, a Auto-Protect Check, a Shortcut Scan and a Norton Cleanup Scan. Once completed, this tool tells you the number and location of each error found.

One of the software programs bundled with Norton SystemWorks is Smith Micro CheckIt Diagnostics. This tool did well diagnosing hardware problems and optimizing memory.

This software does not come with a Startup Manager, a tool that we feel every good PC System Utilities software should include.

Repair/Recovery:  

Norton SystemWorks comes with a Secure Delete tool that wipes out any file or folder so completely that the strongest recovery programs cannot restore the data, including the Department of Defense Wipe.

The software also comes with an Unerase Wizard that keeps a record of all deleted files and allows you to restore them at will. Although our test document was restored, we had a difficult time finding it. The system also comes with an individual undo as well as a complete undo tool, which restores changes made while using the software.

The program's registry repair tool, WinDoctor, allows you to choose which areas you want to scan for errors. When finished, it breaks the errors into categories but can't take you to the actual error in the registry.

Optimization:  

Norton SystemWorks includes an additional program to take care of your optimization needs; System Optimizer allows you to personalize hundreds of Windows settings in one convenient place. Norton System Optimizer is still difficult to navigate.

The software includes a defrag tool for optimizing your hard drive, but the defrag process literally takes hours to complete.

Feature Set:  

Some additional features in Norton SystemWorks are an antivirus program and a file recovery and system protection program called Norton GoBack. This second program comes in handy if you're recovering from the effects of curious children or corrupting spyware.

Help/Support:  

Norton provides a good set of help and support features with Norton SystemWorks, including a context-based help button (which provides in-context help information) email support, paid priority support and an extensive knowledge base online.

Summary:  

Norton SystemWorks 2008 from Symantec is fair PC System Utilities software with the added bonus of antivirus protection. But for the same price you could purchase both the PC System Utilities software, Advanced System Optimizer, and the antivirus software, BitDefender, giving you two powerful products—both top in their fields—in place of one.