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Home: Video University Forums: Tech Q & A:
Alternatives to Norton?

videobear
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Sep 13, 2006, 10:47 AM

Post #1 of 11 (4110 views)
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Alternatives to Norton?	Can't Post

OK...I've heard from lots of folks about how bad and invasive and bloated Norton is. So I uninstalled SystemWorks, and I'm looking for replacements. We've had lots of good suggestions for antivirus programs, but what do you recommend for:

- inspecting and defragging the hard drives (Disk Doctor, Speed Disk)
- cleaning up the registry (One Button Checkup)
- general Windows checkup and repairs (One Button Checkup)
- data backup and restoration (Ghost)
- general decluttering and reorganizing your programs and data (Clean Sweep)

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

DarrenS
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Oct 21, 2006, 4:19 PM

Post #2 of 11 (3984 views)
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Re: [videobear] Alternatives to Norton? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I haven't looked in this forum before.

- I've always just used defrag that comes with windows. Turn off page file first, reboot, then defrag, then enable page file again only make sure it's not dynamic in size (make the minimum and maximum values identical, so the file doesn't shink and grow). Defragging files is easy but the page file gets fragmented its self and it doesn't get defragged unless you remove it completely, then add it again after defrag.

- I've never cleaned up the registry and never had a problem, but then again I don't install software on my main machine just to 'try it out'. If I try out anything, which is rare, I use an old notebook.

- I don't even know what this is to be honest.

- I use the backup program that comes with windows. Works great.

- I'm not sure what this last one is either. I keep programs on C drive and data on other drives. Always keep system/apps and data on seperate drives.

Hope it helps. Oh, I recommend F-Prot for antivirus. Very little resources used, very effective and very inexpensive. Norton AV is the very first thign I rip out of people's computers if I have to work on them. I hate, hate, hate Norton products with a passion.

MoonLitNite
User

Feb 10, 2007, 6:08 AM

Post #3 of 11 (3635 views)
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Re: [DarrenS] Alternatives to Norton? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Doug,

Sorry for the late post here. First off, I agree with Darren that the 2006 version of Norton Anti-virus was a terrible hog (especially the firewall program). This year's 2007 Norton (still the market leader) has made improvements but most techies will never confuse its popularity with the best-in-class anti-virus programs. Anyway, I agree with this site: http://www.consumersearch.com/.../antivirus-software/

Personally, use NOD-32 because of the small footprint and it's excellent speed. And if you need to shut it down for some reason, it doesn't get nasty with you: http://www.eset.com/

For a REALLY thorough disk diagnostic and recovery, no one will ever come close to Gibson's SpinRite: http://www.grc.com/spinrite.htm (pricey, but hands down the best if you're serious about this stuff). I also like his free ZoneAlarm firewall for it's excellent diagnostic that both blocks rogue accesses and informs you know whenever a program on your PC tries to access the net (you can tell it to stop prompting diagnostic messages). And again, you can easily disable ZoneAlarm if it conflicts with software installations (but it's not been a problem for me).

Many of us have also had love-hate relationships with Norton Ghost for disk backups. A year ago I gave it up for Acronis - while others also make good programs, you can try-out a free download here: http://www.acronis.com/ I've had excellent results with this program.

Regarding registry and general clean-up, System Mechanic does a fair job and is completely automated. The pros say registry clean-up is unnecessary and I tend to agree that for the most part, it's not worth letting System Mechanic run the weekly clean-up. But when your system slows waaaaaay down due to registry problems, you'll be glad you've got it: http://www.iolo.com/

To stop nasty spyware, WebRoot SpySweeper is still the king of the pack. But there are several other good products - theoretically none will catch 100% and some load up a few of these anti-spyware programs but I've never had a problem just running SpySweeper: http://www.webroot.com/

Oh yeah, to REALLY kill processes on your PC (as before starting rendering, etc), TaskPower 2 is an excellent, inexpensive program; FYI TaskPower 2 is the successor to
End-It-All 2 (no longer in production and I'd never trust a "free download" executable on the net to be virus-clean): http://www.pcmag.com/...,1895,1853852,00.asp

And finally, several years ago Mark Russinovich created some excellent free "sysinternals" utilities. Microsoft loved them so much they bought the rights for all his programs and still makes them available for free (these aren't critical to have but handy from time to time when troubleshooting, etc): http://www.microsoft.com/...ternals/default.mspx

Good luck, Michael
Happy Trails to you... until we meet again

(This post was edited by MoonLitNite on Feb 10, 2007, 6:12 AM)

videobear
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Feb 12, 2007, 11:40 AM

Post #4 of 11 (3605 views)
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Re: [MoonLitNite] Alternatives to Norton? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for all the advice, folks...but I'm gonna go back to Norton. I tried a couple of highly rated programs, BitDefender and FProt, but they were far too complex and intrusive to suit me. They might have been great in terms of resource use and effectiveness, but they were constantly getting in the way of actually using the computer.

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

MLiebergot
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Feb 28, 2007, 9:58 AM

Post #5 of 11 (3485 views)
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Re: [videobear] Alternatives to Norton? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Doug, I agree with Michael on System Mechanic. I have been using it since version 3 for system maintenance and have never had a problem with my systems.

I dropped Norton several years ago, as I coulldn't stand the way it imbeded so deeply in my system.

So I have been using kaspersky Antivirus and Firewall, and have been very happy with it.
http://usa.kaspersky.com/

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!

DarrenS
Veteran

Feb 28, 2007, 6:30 PM

Post #6 of 11 (3469 views)
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Re: [MLiebergot] Alternatives to Norton? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I coulldn't stand the way it imbeded so deeply in my system

Indeed. It's junk software. The box is hilarious how it uses fear mongering marketing tactics to target the naive.

Try ripping norton out without first 'unprotecting' your recycle bin. You're up crap creek without a paddle. You're looking at at least couple hours of major frustration.

I don't understand what's so hard and/or intrusive about F-Prot. It's a stand-alone app. My 63 year-old Mom runs it without any issues. Just don't install the scheduler or anything else automatic (automatic anything SUCKS, just like automatic Windows Update...there's no way to administer your machine properly if software is being installed/launched behind your back).

Timothy Harry
Veteran

May 31, 2007, 5:47 PM

Post #7 of 11 (2934 views)
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Re: [videobear] Alternatives to Norton? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

1. Defrag, I always use the windows defrag utility. I have found that when I use speed disk etc it just creates problems later on down the road.
2. cleaning up the registry, mainly a gimmick and extremely dangerous but in a pinch I will run sys works from a cd if there isnt time to research/reformat a clients pc.
3. data backup and restoration, The old version of ghost was great, the new version absolutely stinks. I now use Acronis in my environment
4. general decluttering and reorganizing your programs and data, Again mainly a gimmick, the more you reorganize, the more chance you take at data corruption. The secret is to only download what you have to have. On an editing machine I use it as only an editor. no web browsing etc happens on this machine or I will blow a gasket. I keep another computer for browsing/personal stuff. When I get rid of a machine I sell it without a hard drive or buy a new one for it. I use the drives until they die as scratch drives for rendering.

you did not mention anything about anti virus. I use AVG, and it is faster and leaner than norton/mcafee. Best part of all is that it is free. they also have a great anti spyware solution. Most useful to me yesterday was a rootkit removal tool. Those are some nasty boogars.

These are the techniques I use in my main company (I manage 45 workstations and 7 servers for a manufacturing company)

A general safe rule to go buy is not to fix anything until it is broken. You will run into more problems that way. A general Defrag is pretty much all we do to our computers on a regular basis.

Tim Harry

Bandwagon Media
Odessa, TX

"I'd rather be a conservative nut job than a liberal with no nuts and no job."

(This post was edited by Timothy Harry on May 31, 2007, 5:50 PM)

dlhdonn
New User

Jun 3, 2007, 4:34 PM

Post #8 of 11 (2887 views)
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Re: [videobear] Alternatives to Norton? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi, Just thought I'd put my 2 cents in. I've been using SystemSuite by VCOM for close to 4 years. It does everything you're asking and more. It's initial cost is way less than Norton (which I had previously been using). It's very user friendly and there's no yearly subscription fee. Perhaps you would need to upgrade to a newer version after a few years...but my virus updates kept coming with my old version. I upgraded versions because I liked the program so much and they added some features I wanted.

contractor
User

Jun 22, 2007, 8:49 AM

Post #9 of 11 (2666 views)
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Re: [videobear] Alternatives to Norton? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Doug,
After my disaster with Norton (it crashed in the middle of uninstalling and not all of the pieces were removed), I think I "may" have them all out now, still not sure, a friend told me about AVG. I have the trial version on now and have been very happy with it.
Carol

videobear
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Jun 27, 2007, 10:09 AM

Post #10 of 11 (2574 views)
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Re: [contractor] Alternatives to Norton? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm using AVG now, too. I bought the network edition with multiple licenses, because I thought it'd be easier to keep all the machines on my home network updated. But I now think that was serious overkill. The free version should do fine for anyone, unless they've got maybe fifteen different machines or more to manage.

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

Timothy Harry
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Jun 29, 2007, 12:19 PM

Post #11 of 11 (2542 views)
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Re: [videobear] Alternatives to Norton? [In reply to]	Can't Post

we have the same version here, and for home use, the network edition is definitely overkill, but as a network with 45 computers, It is great for us. That one simple console makes my life so much easier!

Tim Harry

Bandwagon Media
Odessa, TX

"I'd rather be a conservative nut job than a liberal with no nuts and no job."