Norton Utilities 14.0

[Spykar]

Introduction

In 1981 Peter Norton launched its Norton Utilities, a DOS-based software that allowed users to retrieve deleted files, supplemented by a number of additional programs, such as a program that the speakers of the PC was beeping.
Over the years published new versions also have more opportunities such as search and fragmentation program . The Norton Utilities versions went on to 8.0, but when Windows 95 appeared at the scene, the series was re-numbered. Today was the product of Peter Norton also acquired by Symantec, that the current version of the program spending.

Windws 95 to now
Even after the launch of Windows 95 was the Norton Utilities suite is a popular application. The complete package to let users manage disks to defragment, to clean and optimize. Retrieve deleted files and create backup up images was also a possibility. That would go on to Norton Utilities 4.0. Thereafter, the successor to the Norton Utilities 2000 baptized, but that song was not so long. Norton Utilities 2002 was even announced and the subsequent versions of the program were only found in the larger Norton System Works package and that would go on up to version 2007.

Symantec chooses from now to the Norton Utilities package back in the loose sales to offer under the name Norton Utilities 14.0 and that for a price of close to 40 euros per three PCs. For that amount Norton promises a range of tools that allows your PC to manage the startup time to speed and performance of your PC to improve in an accessible way. Whether that is true, you can read in this review.

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Features

As mentioned earlier promises Norton Utilities to clean the PC, the startup time and reduce the speed of the PC to improve. It is therefore divided into four parts: optimize, monitor and Windows Tools, with the settings for Norton Utilities. Below is a brief discussion of each cup and what you can.

Key Technologies

• Registry Defragmenter
• Registry Cleaners
• Disk Cleaner
• Disk Defragmenter
• Startup Manager
• Service Manager
• Restore Center
• System Optimizer
• Process Viewer
• Performance Test

Optimize
To optimize your Windows installation suggests Symantec six tools available. The first program is the Registry cleaning a registry cleaner you register check for false or redundant references and adapt. In addition, we also manage services program with one press of a button Norton Utilities scan all services on your computer. Norton then examine which services useful for your computer and what not, and the program the necessary changes.

We also believe the disks back clean, which scans the hard disk on backward mess of Internet browsers and other programs. So far everything went almost automatic, but that is different for the cup startup processes. This is basically a graphical shell from a Windows application that we can access through the panel.

then we have two defragmentation program at one for the register and one for the hard disks. The latter course makes use of the integrated Windows disk defragmentation, but very annoying is the fact that no time is specified by the program, so you have no idea exactly when that is finished. And in the case of defragment we talk about hours, not minutes, a time is really a must.

Check
The check-tab, we find first a cup that allows you to back your system. We get them access to a magic button that would immediately make some changes in the register to your PC in that way easier to run. In addition, we also defragmentation scheduling, monitoring current processes, the CPU consumption view, free disk space monitoring system and some properties appear. Strangely enough gave Norton Utilities on my notebook only 2GB memory, while 3GB present. And no, no gigabyte of memory shared with the video card.

In addition, we also check the registry. When this application on, Norton Utilities monitors the changes in the registry to the way continuing to optimize. You can also test your computer to a performance test, using the benchmarks of Pass Mark. we find even a cup of processes give back, a graphical shell around the well-known task manager of Windows.

Windows Tools
There is little to say. The cup of Windows Tools is a collection of shortcuts to the main applications of the panel, computer management, system, system information, windows update, system properties and a shortcut to the panel itself.

Management
Under management, we can firstly adjust settings of Norton Utilities. The possibilities include adding registry keys to a 'whitelist', the adaptation of what is to be scanned and where. Even an institution that makes the Windows can hide from the Party.

And then there is the lifeline, which allows for automatic back-ups to continue. We have after using the program, no problems, but that was still the case, this way a lifebuoy. The other two cups provide information on the program and an update function for the program of the party.

[Spykar]

Test Results

Computer 1

We had Norton Utilities dissolve two different PCs, where the properties below to find. The first PC is about four hours daily, by an ordinary user, and mainly for gaming purposes. This means that there are rarely cleaned and the register has never been optimized, but not so much surfing and other polluting activities are not limited to running on this PC.

We have the boot time of the system using Boot Timer and for the cleanup started the PC in about 35 seconds, but considering an error margin of about 5 seconds. We argued all the possible optimization processes, and were then re-boot timer test. However, we saw no improvement in boot time. This is probably because the power of the PC is large enough for small defects efficient manner, so that an intervention of Norton Utilities little change anything. Moreover, the boot time of this PC already quite low and Boot Timer is not so precise that a minimal difference in startup time can show.

To perform the optimization process, we have Norton also do a performance test, when the score was 1254 points, without the score of the CD test. After performing the optimization processes were however, we prefer that a score 20 points lower than the original score, Norton Utilities apparently has touched a chord somewhere better had remained untouched. All in all we can say that Norton has done nothing useful with this PC.

System Specification:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Memory : 4096MB
Hard disks: 1x320GB
Operating System : Windows Vista SP1

Computer 2

The second PC is my laptop, which some day six or seven hours is used. I regularly clean the laptop, CCleaner occasionally comes along and the rest on the PC for Office and internet tasks to a successful conclusion. Still annoyed I am already in the beginning to the slow start of this laptop, an issue that more people have encountered with the dv5 and dv7 notebook series from HP. Replacing the hard disk by a copy of 7200rpm, the problem slightly improved but still not enough for my purposes. Norton Utilities to see whether something can change.

To perform the optimization program the computer on a start-up time of no less than 132 seconds, which is almost criminally long. After running the Norton Utilities processes we arrived at a score that no less than 50 seconds lower. In performance tests we saw no changes between the score before the program was started, and after the program had been started.

Norton has this PC startup time is substantially and significant. A change in the performance, we can not infer from the performance test
(CDrom test).

System Specification:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8800
Memory : 4096MB
Hard disks : 1x320GB
Operating System : Windows Vista SP1

[Spykar]

Summery :

It is difficult to judge about Norton Utilities 14.0. The varying performance of different systems sow doubt, but there are things that disturb me to this package. First add the installation of this package very little to your PC: Norton Utilities often make use of standard programs and services that were included with Windows, but with a nice graphic looks around. Moreover, the few unique features of Norton Utilities can be found free on the Internet, such as CCleaner. Also disturbing were the errors in Norton suddenly we were in German approached .

the software centralizes most tools you need to maintain and monitor your system in an easily accessible place. Symantec has also made the effort to round all these features a beautiful graphic looks to build an intuitive GUI, so they are easier to use. For the advanced user, I would not recommend the package, it adds just enough to. For the home, garden and kitchen computer enthusiast, the package however a nice addition.

Plus Points

• Easily and quickly optimize your PC.
• Optimizes PC in a safe manner.

Downsides

• Package features already in Windows.
• Not always well translated.
• There are also free applications in the same circulation can.

[Spykar]

Conclusion

Norton Utilities is a useful package novice users will have something to. It centralizes the main system in one place for quick and easy to reach. In addition, Symantec added some useful programs to the package that automatically improve in the register or unnecessary files from your PC Delete. Especially for older PC's will that mean speed gain.

But the mixed results and the fact that the software is mainly composed of Windows Tools and programs which are also free to obtain, that I can not recommend this package to advanced users. They have long known where they find these things and these forty euro package costs you can just as well do something else.