How best to start a review of a software stalwart? Suffice it to say, if you know the name Symantec then you know the name Norton. And fans of the Norton franchise will surely be familiar with Systemworks, the software utility industry's equivalent of Now That's What I Call Music-style compilations. If this is old news to you, then the only thing you'll demand of a review of the latest edition is a verdict. That's assuming you already have an earlier version of Systemworks. If not then you should invest in this package, as the 2004-suffixed version of Symantec's toolkit is worth £64.99 of any PC user's money. However, the suite is not without its problems.

We'll begin by looking at the fresh stuff in this revision. Depressingly - and not a little curiously, considering the despised nature of the beast - Symantec has decided that product activation should receive top billing in Systemworks 2004's list of new features. When a firm can think of nothing greater to boast about in a latest edition of a flagship product than a restriction on how and where the user may install and use the goods, you have to wonder whether it's running out of ideas. In short, we suspect this 'key feature' may in fact prove a key turn-off for some consumers.

However, if buying software that shackles itself to one machine doesn't bother you, then there's an awful lot of good stuff in Systemworks. The suite comprises five Norton-branded software tools - Anti-virus, Password Manager, Cleansweep, Goback Personal Edition and, naturally, Norton Utilities.

Norton Anti-virus is as good as it's ever been, with the Liveupdate feature ensuring that the database of virus signatures is always aware of the latest online threats (assuming, of course, that the host computer is hooked up to the net). We chucked a few viruses at the program and, as expected, it alerted us to each one, preventing infection.

With this release, though, Symantec has expanded the scope of Anti-virus. The program is supposedly now able to deal with newer terrors like spyware and keystroke-logging programs, as well as annoyances such as adware and diallers. However, as the configuration options on these new triggers effectively amount to 'on' or 'off', the user is reliant on Symantec's definitions of the latest spyware/adware/dialler threats being up to date - but our tests were none too reassuring on this point. Alarmingly, the first attempt at entrusting Norton Anti-virus to deal with a randomly encountered dialler was not encouraging: the program neither attempted to prevent us from downloading an executable for a (well-known) dialler, nor from launching it. Result: one unwanted premium-rate dialler installed on our test system. Upon a manual scan, Anti-virus did detect and remove the offending program, but unlocked stable doors and bolted horses spring to mind.

However, don't think our overall view of Systemworks is downbeat. In fact, the package has lots to recommend it. Norton Utilities, for instance, is a tool that's tried and trusted by millions of PC users worldwide. Old favourites here include Disk Doctor, for detecting or remedying problems on storage media, and System Information, which gives a breakdown of your computer's configuration.

In a similar vein, Cleansweep will interrogate your hard disks for all installed software applications, eradicating every element you no longer use. The utility also provides a quick and simple method of tidying up files and folders, as well as cleaning up Internet detritus.

Predictably, Norton Password Manager looks after and secures all the various login details that quickly pile up. Initially useless, the utility comes into its own with extended use, as a profile of your online activities is built up.

The final element of Systemworks 2004 is Norton Goback Personal Edition, which must be installed separately and is operated independently to other elements. If you use Windows XP, think of it as an advanced version of System Restore. It could prove one of the suite's most indispensable utilities: the ability to restore a PC to a previously working state is a boon to anyone who regularly makes changes to their system.

Contact: Symantec 01628 592 222
www.symantec.co.uk

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