Utilities

I'd be lost without the ability to run NCD in a command window [grin].

I've used Norton Utilities since when it was a DOS program, but I've given up  on them since XP came along. Win XP has incorporated all the Utilities into XP and made Norton unnecessary. I found it caused more problems rather than cured them.

ArchFiend, it is possible that you would be happier with Norton utilities if you would fix each problem manually and not allow it to be done automatically.  I have noticed that the interface of utilities is confusing.  You need to indicate which things you want it to repair.  I always run utilities in a manner that allows me to make the choices, not the program.  Furthermore, Norton will tell you that such and such item is not in use when it really is.  Never let the program run automatically.  I suppose all utility programs run the same way no matter who makes them.  Check reviews on www.cnet.com . Most of us don't worry about what the utilities do.  If your computer works OK, as in the song, Let it be.  Your motto should be "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."  With that being said, you should defrag your hard drive from time to time.  Clean the registry only if things are crashing.

I'm with Mary.  I used Norton Utilities back in the DOS days, but the built in Windows XP disk utilites is all that's needed.  I find some of the other programs such as Norton Systemworks want to fix things that do not need "fixing" and will cause more problems than it's worth (but I have to say as a part-time tech it has generated some business making service calls to fix what was "fixed" by the automatic programs).

Under "normal" operations, what is built into Windows XP is all that's ever needed.

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@fireberd wrote:

I'm with Mary.  I used Norton Utilities back in the DOS days, but the built in Windows XP disk utilites is all that's needed.  I find some of the other programs such as Norton Systemworks want to fix things that do not need "fixing" and will cause more problems than it's worth (but I have to say as a part-time tech it has generated some business making service calls to fix what was "fixed" by the automatic programs).

Under "normal" operations, what is built into Windows XP is all that's ever needed.

Same here.  Have SW Pro, never use anything but Ghost.

I guess either Norton or the utilities built in XP are all the utilities that a person needs.

Are there other utilities  out there that anyone might recommend?

I usually defrag once a week.

How would I manually repair files threw Norton? Can it be done with the CD?  I do not want to install Norton, because it made my start up slow.

Dear ArchFiend 138, You haven't absorbed what we have all told you.  I have not used utilities in over a year because it causes nothing but trouble.  Many Dell users have written about how their system was destroyed by using utilities.  On XP, utility programs are an answer without a question.  Don't believe the tech articles on how useful utilities are.  Back in DOS days, utilities were helpful.

Message Edited by paindoc on 03-30-2004 09:40 PM