Symantec SystemWorks 2005 review

A new year always means a new version of Norton's invaluable suite of utilities, and 2005 is no exception with the arrival of SystemWorks 2005.

This latest edition of the daddy of utility suites is firmly focused on keeping your PC secure, and includes several new features to make sure it remains safe and stable, no matter what the threat.

The biggest single addition to the suite is a full copy of GoBack 4.0. This utility allows you to roll back your PC to a point where it was working properly, so if you encounter a virus attack, system crash or failed software installation, you can turn back the clock to before the incident. This ensures that you don't lose vital data and can restore stable settings after such a disaster. GoBack requires 4GB of contiguous hard disk space, so if you have a cluttered hard disk you may have to defragment it before you can successfully install the software.

GoBack also provides a SafeTry mode, which allows you to test out new software before you install it. This helps you avoid the problems that can occur when you load flaky software on your PC.

But GoBack is just part of this suite. The other core tool is Norton AntiVirus. This has been updated to protect your PC against the constant threat of infection. It scans files and emails in real-time to prevent threats invading your computer.

You can schedule regular scans, and the QuickScan feature automatically scans your system as soon as it receives updated virus definitions and removes any threats using enhanced removal facilities. We found its virus scanning to be among the best, although we were slightly concerned that updates come only once a week. See our anti-virus labs on page 236 for more information.

A new One-Button Checkup feature gives your computer a thorough examination and fixes any problems it comes across. This includes a cleanup scan that will get rid of all the unnecessary files stored on your computer, such as cookies and cached web pages. We were particularly impressed with how fast this program worked, as in the past such tools have tended to take an age to fix problems.

Before you use the Checkup feature to fix your problems, CheckIT Diagnostics will create a detailed report on your PC's performance and point out any areas that require attention.

Once you have dealt with any problems afflicting your PC, you can use System Optimizer to customise Windows settings to ensure your computer works in the most efficient way for you. You can adjust all kinds of settings to tailor your PC to your working methods, and while many of these controls are available within Windows, System Optimizer makes them easy to find and provides full explanations of what they all do.

SystemWorks 2005 is good value at £45, although you have to pay an extra £17 a year for live updates of your virus definitions.