Norton Systemworks System Optimizer

I have used Norton products since 2000 without any problem. I recently purchased Norton Systemworks and utilized the System Optimizer and I now have corrupted files/hard drive. I completed the portion of the SO that allows you to not have to log on every time you turn on your PC, BIG MISTAKE! My OS is Windows Media XP SP 2. My PC no longer recognizes me as the System Administrator and I can no longer access SA tasks, files, etc. I am the only one who uses my PC. I uninstalled the product without results. I spent at least 16 hours trying to figure out what was wrong and how to fix it. I finally called HP and we determined the problem was the system organizer. I need to do a back up and reformat my hard drive. I can't because I am denied access to backup, hard drives, etc. Any advice before I recontact HP or take it in to a professional. I have been reading Major Geeks for a while and would trust your advice before anyone else's. Thanks!

 

First have you tried to boot in safe mode?( so it does not load Norton)
Second did you try to repair your install by booting from your windows cd/dvd

You probably tried both of these in hour 2 or 3 but just checking

You can try using one of many live cd (cd mounted OS) such as MiniPE or perhaps a linux cd such as Knoppix Live then you can boot to the cd and recover those files.

In my opinion get rid of Norton completely and install a nice antiviral(AVG) and a good firewall and learn to use them correctly, Norton is a notoriopus system hog.

Any more? just ask

 

Thanks for your advice Petaluma. I did try to boot in safe mode but was not sure how to perform the next 3 functions. With my luck, when I'm unsure and try, I screw everything up. I have 3 windows discs and was not sure if I needed to boot up with all 3 and if I would lose any of my files. Believe it or not I've been using AVG products for approx 1 year but, got NSW and decided to install it.

 

One of the disks with system works is called 'Symantec recovery disk'.

This is a very useful disk, do not loose it even if you give up on Norton.

Make sure that your pc will boot from CD.
Put in the symantec cd
Boot...........watch the screen you have to respond to press any key to boot from CD.....by pressing a key


The pc will boot from the CD. this takes an age and nothing seems to happen as Symantec use their own operating system outside windows (useful for virus repair).

you have to accept the licence agreement.

eventually you reach a menu screen, where your options are

to repair viruses
to restore backups
to repair faulty windows follow this one

Studio T

 

Studiot,

Thanks so much for your advice but I will need to contact HP and am awaiting Norton's reply. I'm not all that experienced in what you suggested and will undoubtly make things worse. I did not get a symantec recovery disc but will request one. I can't upload, download, access hard drives, access anything a system administrator can do. I'm just trying to save a year's worth of work. I will pass your recommendations on to norton and HP, we'll see how much they know.

margeann

 

Sorry to hear that much work is at risk. If you can find a friend (or pay a technician - it's not that dear) to temporarily hook up your hard drive to their pc you can copy your data off to safety. I usually do this before starting any drastic action.

Also sorry to hear that Symantec are cheapening up on Norton Systemworks if they no longer provide the recovery disk, my 2005 vintage certainly came on 2 cds, Systemworks and Recovery. I think the manual has only been beaten for the worst manual ever award by the Orange broadband manual though.

Good luck

Studio T

 

Studiot,

Once again thank you so much for your advice. I know I will give in and pay my friend but, it will be worth it. I'm not a quitter though and will wait for norton's reply. They need to be responsible.

margeann

 

Hi Studiot,

Norton tells me I can resolve my problem by reinstalling windows. Won't I lose everything in outlook express, my favorites, my documents, etc.

Thanks for your help/advice.

 

I don't know how you are communicating with Symantec (Norton) but it would be a good idea to review your resources before proceeding further.
I will state my assumptions, please CORRECT any that are not right.
You are not confidant about touching the hardware but fell OK with installing stuff from CD.
You are unsure about bios settings.
Please confirm what sort of Windows CD you have and the type of the problem PC. This is very important. Microsoft windows cds are bronze and labelled as such. some manufacturers recovery disks contain windows but are usually slightly different.
I guess you are accessing the internet on a friend's or public pc, can you write cds on this one? Can you write to cd with your duff pc when it is working?
These questions are aimed at finding a way of preserving your data.

Now to Symantec's suggestion re-install Windows.
There are two types of install
Firstly a clean install. This will destroy all your data period.
Second a repair install. This will preserve your data and many of your settings. Many of your programs will continue to work but some will be 'broken' i.e. still there but not working properly. But you can reinstall these
In particular antivirus, service packs and updates will have to be reinstalled.
The bad news is that unless you have a Dell recovery disk or genuine microsoft windows disk you can't do a repair install. The good news is that it can be any Dell or microsoft disk of the same version of windows it does not have to be yours for the repair install!

If you go for a repair install (about 45 minutes work) and you have a cd writer you can repair then save your data to cd then consider a proper clean install.

Let us know and we will take it from there.

Studio T

 

Hi Studio T,

Thank you, thank you for your help. I am going to take your advice to my friend's son who is a computer tech. Because of your advice, I will be able to decrease my costs for repair.

You are correct, I am not comfortable handling the hardward and I don't even know what bios settings are but will look it up.

I do have the windows xp sp2 media recovery discs. Since completing the portion of system optimizer that allows me to never log in again, the trouble started. My pc no longer recognizes me as the system administrator. If I attempt to perform any sa functions I get a message stating that.....this function can only be performed by the sa. Therefore no access to my hard drive, folders such as my documents, administrative tools, etc. I am not able to download, upload, etc. Can't back up, upload from discs, etc. However, I can use my pc for everything else. Yes, I have a cd writer.

Your help has been greatly appreciated and I am now understanding more.

Again, many, many thanks!

margeann

 

Recommend your Tech sets you up with a separate Administrator account for administrating the computer and limited user account for everyday use and in particular surfing the internet. This is the single most important step you can take to provide security and will protect against rootkits, something Norton doesn't do.
Second since you build up particularly important data, get your tech to create a separate data partition and redirect your programs to use it for output. This will mean if you have Windows trouble in future you can wipe out Windows as many times as you like without loosing your data. Of course it will still be vulnerable to total hard drive failure but they are now very reliable and you can backup offline for that.

Good Luck

Studio T

 

margeann, like you, I have been using Norton programs for ages (since the DOS days).
I have currently installed Norton SystemWorks 2006 Premier.
I do not install the AntiVirus installed, though. I use Avast instead.
I have never come across System Optimiser, though.
I regularly use Speeddisk (once or twice a week) to Defrag my hard drive. I have used Speeddisk for years and it is the primary reason I buy Nortons.
I restrict myself to the Norton Utilities portion of NSW.

I do not use Norton Ghost (very old version would not work with 2 identical make and model harddrives--have not tried it since), Norton GoBack, or System Optimiser.

My reason for this post is to suggest that you continue to use the Norton Utilities part of NSW at least. Bazza

 

Bigbazza,

Thank you so much for your advice. NSW 2006 included system optimizer. I am obsessive compulsive in that I do ALL virus updates and checks daily, everything else is done every Monday (including defrag and disk cleaner.) Since my problem I resorted back to AVG free edition, spyware and Ad-aware, Spyblaster, Windows Registry, Zone Alarm and WinPro.

I never used Ghost but did like the utilities but, I will never use the product again.

I did not get any satisfaction from Symantec which I expected.

margeann

 

Hi Studio T,

I am giving all of your advice to my friend's son (computer tech.) There is some work I am confident in doing myself. Thank you again.

I also keep forgetting to tell you that I have had pen pal in Hull, England since 1966. A super friend. She has been to the states 3 times, 2 times to visit me. My favorite means of travel is by car. The first time we drove out east. The second time we went to Disney World. And, I do all the site seeing I can on the way.

margeann

 

Have a look again at the disks you had with the Symantec package. A few days ago I installed someone's Norton Internet Security 2007. That definitely included a 'restore' cd.
Today I returned a repaired pc, with Norton Systemworks to a lady who asked me what the other two disks were for. She had never opened them. One was called 'save and restore' which is the emergency rescue disk.

Studio T

 

Studio t

I have been using Norton products since 2000 and have never received a recovery disc in the package, only one disc, the one I ordered. I even asked Symantec for the recovery disc and was informed they did not have one, not familiar with it. I will definitely ask again.

Thanks again!

margeann

 

i believe (correct me if im wrong) that during installation of most antivirus programs they ask u to make a recovery disk. ive purchased norton before, and ive never seen a recovery disk with the package (it has been a while tho) most people (including me) do not do that...prolly cause ive never needed it.

 

Let's get this straight once and for all.
I am not referring to any cd or floppy the user must make for themselves, although I highly recommend doing this.

I am looking straight at a yellow cd entitled 'Symantec Recovery Disk'. It also says in small letters the magic words
"this cd may be used as an emergency boot disk,scan for viruses, recover ( Symantec) backup images........."

I do not know about USA packaging, but in the UK this disk was included in the retail box with Norton System Works 2005. Subsequently I have seen similar disks with Norton Internet Security, 2006 and 2007. These later disks are entitled 'Save and Recover'. These are issued with the full retail boxed product, not OEM bundled versions or versions downloaded from the Symantec website.

The recovery disk is very attractive because it allows the user to boot a pc with any version of Windows, from outside Windows. That is it contains a small operating system. Running from this the user can scan for viruses, attempt to reboot his (her) Windows or perform Symantec specific backup and image restoration tasks if the user has been wise enough to make any, and all from outside Windows! What is more using the disk in conjunction with a working pc running Norton AV, and a USB Stick, the user can scan using the latest virus definitions. Obviously the ones on the CD are only current at the date of stamping.

All in all a very worthwhile tool.

As you may have gathered I use Norton AV, despite the occasional glitch. Some of the Symantec packages have all sorts of capability which unfortunately load automatically if a user puts in the CD and selects 'typical setup'. All too often it is these extras which tangle up the user and then we see pleas for help at MG and other forums.
This situation is also true for cds supplied with many peripherals such as scanners and printers. All the extra 'touch up and catalogue auntie nellie's photo' software change wanted settings, often load at boot, often try to 'phone home' and generally clog up resources, slowing the user's pc down.

Studio T

 

margeann, FWIW, I've just checked my Norton SystemWorks 2006 Premier box.
I have a "Symantec Recovery" CD disk in yellow, as well as the install CD.

Bazza

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