Rating: 
Summary: Beats Norton by a Country mile
Review: After a disappointing "affair" with Norton System works, I went looking for a better system to protect my new computer (Intel Pent.4 at 2.0, 40 Gig,18" Flat panel LCD monitor etc).With an entirely new computer system, I didn't want to have any more problems like I experienced with Norton System Works: absolutely impossible to get any support for the product when you encounter a problem -- Symantec throws up an endless number of screens for you to keep clking, clking, clking until you are weary and just throw up your hands and give up -- I mean it if you have ever tried to get technical support from their o/l support; there is no way to reach Symantec with a simple phone call.
I purchased On-Track based upon the favorable reviews I saw in Amazon and I was just delighted with it. After having a problem with some of the options of their system suite, I called the toll free # -- good for 1 yr of free support!!, yes that's right, I entire yr FREE-- and was able to speak to a technician who answered my question and I didn't feel rushed, like he to get on to the next call.
While looking at Amazon software, I noticed the ON-Track System Suite and checked it out by reading the customer reviews which were quite favorable, so I bought the On-Track system Suite. It came today and includes a firewall as part of the system.
My advice: forget about Norton and buy On-Track. You will be just as delighted as I have been.
Rating:
Summary: Far better than Norton 2002 for Windows XP
Review: After buying versions of Norton Systemworks including the 2002 version, I noticed that this package got a much higher rating than Norton Systemworks in a review by PC Magazine. So I decided to give it a try because some of the Norton utilities that I liked are not available to WinXP users. The jewel of the Ontrack Suite is a program called Registry Fixer. It finds and safely fixes (with the user's approval) many more potential problems than Norton WinDoctor. And the Ontrack Cleanup programs also do a much better job than Norton Cleansweep at finding and safely deleting many unneeded files. The first time you run the Registry Fixer or Cleanup, you'll be amazed at how many potential registry issues and deletable files are detected (even if you run these programs immediately after running the comparable Norton Systemworks programs). Norton dominates the market so much that I think they've gotten complacent (maybe arrogant) about keeping at the cutting edge in developing system utilities for Windows XP. All in all, when comparing Norton Systemworks and Ontrack System Suite 4, I think only the Norton Antivirus component and the Norton Speed Disk component are superior to the comparable programs in the Ontrack suite. If you're looking for a powerful set of tools to stablize and clean up your system, then I recommend this one without hesitation. And if you're a Windows XP user, then this suite offers so much more than Norton 2002.
Rating: 
Summary: Upon further review
Review: After I bought this product back on August 12,02, I was very impressed with its features and most helpful FREE phone support from the On-Track technicians. However, on Oct. 2, 02, my computer was infected with the WORM_BUGBEAR.A virus. I took corrective action but was unable to remove the virus, so I shut down my computer.
The next morning, I called the FREE phone support line of On-Track and received the instructions necessary to remove the virus. Since I have XP, the directions required me to d/l XP service packs 1&2, then I just followed the directions contained in an e-mail from On-Track. It seemed like the project took all day and indeed it took me most of the day under a great deal of stress. But I was able to remove the virus based upon the directions from On-Track.
Then just about 3 days after that ordeal with the WORM ...,I was informed that the system suite had been sold to VC-com.
And just yesterday, I got another virus. Called VC-com but found out that "the on-line phone support has been discontinued indefinitely" and was referred to their online support. When I went to the VC-com site, it was most confusing and uninformative -- just some vague generalities about viruses.
Immediately I realized that the new owners of the product had no interest in support for customers of the On-Track system. With just a brief rage against VC-com, I uninstalled the On-Track system and installed Norton System Works 2002 Pro. Ed which I bought after the WORM.. ordeal to have a backup virus system. It took me 2-3 hours working with the Norton anti-virus and my system was cleared of the virus ( I don't recall the name since my printer failed but it was something approx. Eecir or somesuch.
As a result of the indifference by the new owners of On-Trak towards customers having a problem with a virus, I would no longer recommend this product as enthusiasticaly as I did in my previous review. The virus problems have led me to the conclusion that a computer owner has to have Norton System Works to be on the safe side. They have an army of anti-virus technicans all over the globe and are on top of any new virus menacing computer owners -- don't go with an unproven product with new owners. Norton in the only way to go.
Rating:
Summary: I Won!
Review: After losing a system I was able to get it back up and running with this suite. Not only that but it managed to fix a variety of problems on our other system as well. The support was good and the update manager worked like a charm. The virus checker works in the background the way Norton should work but it does so without slowing down the system. I am very impressed with this suite.
Rating:
Summary: Stable, Safe, and Effective
Review: All other utility programs (Norton System Works 2002, System Mechanic v.3.7h, and Wincleaner)I have used were either unstable, unsafe, or ineffective. But Ontrack System Suite 4.0 has been very effective and safe.1. It has wide array of programs that are indeed helpful and useful. You also have a freedom choose which programs you want to install. I choose not to install Anti-Virus and Firewall programs, because I already have them.
2. It has been safe. All other utility programs have caused crash on my XP and Win 2000. Ontrack safely cleans and fixes the system. Other programs have messed up MS Office registry and conflicts with cable modems.
3. It has been stable. Norton is known for slowing down your system, but Ontrack does not.
4. It does what it promises and has very helpful documentations. It has cleansed registry and unnecessary files safely and gives me the control over my hardwares and diagnoses the problem. With it, my system is running optimally. For me, I am sold on System Suite 4.0.
Rating: 
Summary: I still use BOTH systemsuite AND systemworks
Review: AND it does it well! The firewall is by Sygate, the Antivirus is by Trend (FREE AV updates! - At least I've never been asked for any sort of subscription fee). Auto update works well. All utilities First Rate. Very Good Customer service as well. I had two related issues, Cust service wise. The first was I had a problem with the firewall interfering with Musicmatch Jukebox. I emailed them about it and got a nice (and polite) email back stating they were aware of the issue but it was a known compatibility issue between Sygate & MMJB but they (VCom) felt that they were sticking with Sygate because of the level of protection it provides. I felt they understood my concern but that they felt the level of protection would be compromised by resolving it.(The MMJB people were much less polite -So I found a new media player. Good media players are easier to find than reliable utilities.) The second issue was related to the above. In the course of tracking down the problems with MMJB I had deleted most of SystemSuite4. So when I tried to reinstall the complete software package, it wouldn't load. My CD disk was corrupted or something. Again I contacted them, and 2 days later I had authorization to download a new copy. No hassle - No run around.
Rating:
Summary: This product does what it claims
Review: AND it does it well! The firewall is by Sygate, the Antivirus is by Trend (FREE AV updates! - At least I've never been asked for any sort of subscription fee). Auto update works well. All utilities First Rate. Very Good Customer service as well. I had two related issues, Cust service wise. The first was I had a problem with the firewall interfering with Musicmatch Jukebox. I emailed them about it and got a nice (and polite) email back stating they were aware of the issue but it was a known compatibility issue between Sygate & MMJB but they (VCom) felt that they were sticking with Sygate because of the level of protection it provides. I felt they understood my concern but that they felt the level of protection would be compromised by resolving it.(The MMJB people were much less polite -So I found a new media player. Good media players are easier to find than reliable utilities.) The second issue was related to the above. In the course of tracking down the problems with MMJB I had deleted most of SystemSuite4. So when I tried to reinstall the complete software package, it wouldn't load. My CD disk was corrupted or something. Again I contacted them, and 2 days later I had authorization to download a new copy. No hassle - No run around.
Rating:
Summary: I still use BOTH systemsuite AND systemworks
Review: As a pc support tech, I have both products, Norton Systemworks pro AND Vcom systemsuite. Systemsuite almost always finds A LOT more registry and startup problems that norton's Windoctor ever could. On the other hand, systemsuite's Jetdefrag utility will sometimes stop, due to finding a hard drive error, telling you to run CHKDSK /F.
You would think that systemsuite's own diskfixer would do the same thing as CHKDSK, but that is NOT the case.
Diskfixer will tell you that ALL IS WELL.
But you go to run Jetdefrag and the drive error rears it's ugly head again.
So you really do have to run CHKDSK to fix any serious hard drive errors, when using systemsuite. Whereas Norton's disk doctor seems to work EXACTLY the same as CHKDSK does. As for scheduling drive defragging, sysytemsuite lets you select
ALL or ANY of the drives, on one screen. Norton's defrag let's you pick a single drive OR you have to use the scheduler, in order to defrag multiple drives at one time. I suggest having BOTH utility packages in your arsonal.
Rating:
Summary: Virus Updates Still Coming Out
Review: Bought the product partially based on the reviews on this site. Was worried about product support based on what people said. But since loading it just 4 days ago, the EasyUpdate feature has found two virus definition updates to download, including the latest virus that hit the news only yesterday! I am reassured. Also was reassured when it installed well and when I see how much lower the drag is on my computer's resources versus the combination of Norton SystemWorks and Norton Internet Security.
Rating:
Summary: Virus Updates Still Coming Out
Review: Bought the product partially based on the reviews on this site. Was worried about product support based on what people said. But since loading it just 4 days ago, the EasyUpdate feature has found two virus definition updates to download, including the latest virus that hit the news only yesterday! I am reassured. Also was reassured when it installed well and when I see how much lower the drag is on my computer's resources versus the combination of Norton SystemWorks and Norton Internet Security.
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