What's like Norton only better?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Big Bill
  • Start date Start date
B

Big Bill

You know, for disk maintenance and stuff like that? My machine cuts
out every now and then, and it takes longer and longer to reboot
lately, I get a flashing cursor at the top left of the screen for
longer before it decides to boot properly. I'd be happier if I had a
decent diagnostic/maintenance suite on board, any recommendations
please? I'm using XPSP2.

BB
 
Big said:
You know, for disk maintenance and stuff like that? My machine cuts
out every now and then, and it takes longer and longer to reboot
lately, I get a flashing cursor at the top left of the screen for
longer before it decides to boot properly. I'd be happier if I had a
decent diagnostic/maintenance suite on board, any recommendations
please? I'm using XPSP2.

BB
Click to expand...

"Norton" is a hodge-podge of utilities. Just what is it that needs
to be done? Or more specifically, just what are the problems that
one hopes some utility might be able to solve?
 
"Norton" is a hodge-podge of utilities. Just what is it that needs
to be done? Or more specifically, just what are the problems that
one hopes some utility might be able to solve?
Click to expand...

Spotting disk errors before they become a problem, windows errors and
similar.

BB
 
Big Bill said:
Spotting disk errors before they become a problem, windows errors and
similar.
Click to expand...

For hard drive error spotting use CHKDSK and DEFRAG. And make sure
that SMART is activated for your hard drive. You don't need anything
further, except perhaps the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic
software for an annual checkup and/or when SMART produces a warning
message.

As for Windows errors, Norton is at least 10,000 times more likely to
be the root cause of these problems than it is to do anything about
identifying or preventing them.

With Windows XP there is almost zero need for any third party
diagnostic or monitoring utilities except in specialized
circumstances.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
You know, for disk maintenance and stuff like that? My machine cuts
out every now and then, and it takes longer and longer to reboot
lately, I get a flashing cursor at the top left of the screen for
longer before it decides to boot properly. I'd be happier if I had a
decent diagnostic/maintenance suite on board, any recommendations
please? I'm using XPSP2.
Click to expand...


Several comments:

1. Almost anything is better than anything Norton.

2. I don't believe in software suites of any kind--whether utility,
security, office, or anything else. I believe in choosing what I
believe to be the best program for the particular purpose, regardless
of what some vendor has chosen to package together as a suite.

3. If you are experiencing specific problems, you should not be
looking for either a program or a suite to do things like disk
maintenance. You should be doing trouble-shooting (or asking
others--for example here--for help in diagnosing what your problems
are). It's far from true that Disk Utility programs are the answer to
all problems.

4. Malware is getting to be an increasingly common source of problems.
If I were in your shoes, the very first thing I would do is make sure
that your system is malware-free. I recommend that you go to Malke's
Malware Removal site at
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware and
follow the instructions there.
 
Several comments:

1. Almost anything is better than anything Norton.

2. I don't believe in software suites of any kind--whether utility,
security, office, or anything else. I believe in choosing what I
believe to be the best program for the particular purpose, regardless
of what some vendor has chosen to package together as a suite.

3. If you are experiencing specific problems, you should not be
looking for either a program or a suite to do things like disk
maintenance. You should be doing trouble-shooting (or asking
others--for example here--for help in diagnosing what your problems
are). It's far from true that Disk Utility programs are the answer to
all problems.

4. Malware is getting to be an increasingly common source of problems.
If I were in your shoes, the very first thing I would do is make sure
that your system is malware-free. I recommend that you go to Malke's
Malware Removal site at
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware and
follow the instructions there.
Click to expand...

OK, I'll peek. Thanks both. And I'll check to see if smart's enabled.

BB
 
Big Bill said:
You know, for disk maintenance and stuff like that? My machine cuts
out every now and then, and it takes longer and longer to reboot
lately, I get a flashing cursor at the top left of the screen for
longer before it decides to boot properly. I'd be happier if I had a
decent diagnostic/maintenance suite on board, any recommendations
please? I'm using XPSP2.

BB
--

http://www.kruse.co.uk/internet-marketing-small-business.htm
http://www.kruse.co.uk/internet-marketing-uk.htm
http://www.crystal-liaison.com/giving/
Click to expand...

Symantec software is seldom written by employed software writers. Rather,
its purchased from 3rd parties, or, the company itself is bought out for
rights to that software. Then, its modified and usually made a mess of from
that point on. Peter Norton did a fine job writing software for Symantec
over a decade ago. Wish people would stop called Symantec trashware
"Norton".
Dave
 
Symantec software is seldom written by employed software writers. Rather,
its purchased from 3rd parties, or, the company itself is bought out for
rights to that software. Then, its modified and usually made a mess of from
that point on. Peter Norton did a fine job writing software for Symantec
over a decade ago. Wish people would stop called Symantec trashware
"Norton".
Dave
Click to expand...

Actually Peter Norton had his own company, which he sold to Symantec.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
And Norton\Symantec has never been the same. At least it was working properly under Peter Norton
 
Ron Martell said:
Actually Peter Norton had his own company, which he sold to Symantec.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
Click to expand...

And, he actually wrote software for Symantec as well.
Dave
 
And, he actually wrote software for Symantec as well.
Click to expand...


As far as I know, that's not correct. He sold the company to Symantec
lock, stock, and barrel, and never wrote for them.

However if you know otherwise, I'd appreciate seeing a citation that
says otherwise.
 
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