Norton Utilities
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Developer(s) | Symantec |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 14 / February 3, 2009 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and Unix |
| Type | Utility software |
| License | Proprietary |
The Norton Utilities releases are collections of software utilities.
The current version 14 of Norton Utilities for Windows XP/Vista was released February 3, 2009.
Peter Norton published the first version for DOS, The Norton Utilities, Release 1, ca 1981. Release 2 came out several years later, subsequent to the first hard drives for the IBM PC line. Peter Norton's company was sold to Symantec in 1990. However his name remains as a "brand" for Symantec's range of utility and security software for home users.
[edit] Norton Utilities for DOS/Windows 3.1
A number of programs in the Norton Utilities package were licensed by Microsoft over the years and incorporated into MS-DOS. One example is SPEEDISK.exe, which Microsoft licensed as DEFRAG.exe in MS-DOS 6 onward.[citation needed]
[edit] 1.0
The initial release featured the UNERASE utility. This allowed files to be undeleted by restoring the first letter of the directory entry (a feature of the FAT file system used in MS-DOS, albeit one that was not originally documented). The UNERASE utility was what launched NU on its path to success.[citation needed]
Other utilities included the following:
- ASK, used for batch file programming
- BEEP, causes the PC speaker to beep
- VERIFY
Following this release Peter Norton was made Utilities Editor of PC Magazine.
[edit] 2.0
The main feature of this version was FILEFIND, used for searching for files.
[edit] 4.0
Release 4.0 included a number of features including Norton Disk Doctor, a disk defragmenter (SPEEDISK), a sector level disk editor, a system information diagnostic utility, and a disk caching program (NCACHE), which was between 10 - 50% faster than Microsoft's SMARTDrive when properly configured. This version also included a menu system to tie the utilities together called the Norton Integrator (NI). Previously the utilities were accessed by typing the command name (usually a cryptic 2 character name such as FF) at the DOS prompt.
[edit] 4.5
Advanced Edition also includes Wipedisk, Wipefile, and SpeedDisk.
[edit] 5.0
Release 5.0 included more features, including a utility to perform low level formatting on hard disks, and changes such as password protection on the more "dangerous" utilities. It also included a licensed version of the 4DOS replacement for COMMAND.COM called NDOS. This version also allowed the choice of "classic" names (such as FF.EXE) or longer names (such as FINDFAST.EXE); these were configurable in the updated version of the Norton Integrator menu system.
[edit] 6.0
Norton Utilities 6.0 supports DOS 5 and Windows 3.1. It includes Windows Program Manager support, but the tools are still DOS-based, so a set of icons were supplied.
It includes Norton Disk Doctor, Disk Editor, Disk Tools, Speed Disk, Norton Cache, Disk Monitor, Diskret, NDisk, System Information, NDOS.[1]
The speed of Speed Disk was faster than previous release.
Diskret supports Data Encryption Standard.
System Information now includes more detailed information on installed system.
[edit] 7.0
It supports MS-DOS 6.0, DoubleSpace, Stacker, and SuperStor disk compression tools.
It includes Norton Disk Doctor, SpeedDisk, Disk Editor, Undelete, SmartCan, NDOS, System Information, File Find, Norton Change Directory.[2]
Release 7.0 had revised user interfaces for the utilities that feature a menu-driven user interface. Also some of these tools now did not need to run in full-screen-mode but just displayed a window in the center of the screen, like the disk formatter or the disk duplicator utility.
Disk Editor now includes Advanced Recovery Mode.
[edit] 8.0 for DOS/Windows 3.x
Release 8.0 was nearly the same as 7.0, but added Windows 3.1 utilities.
DOS Utilities include Norton Disk Doctor, System Information, Change Directory, FileFind, Diskreet, DUPDISK, File Fix, NDOS, Batch Enhancer, Norton Integrator, Speed Disk.[3]
Windows utilities include Norton Disk Doctor, Speed Disk, System Watch, File Compare, INI Tracker, INI Tuner, INI editor, INI Advisor
[edit] Norton Utilities for Windows 95 and later
[edit] Norton Utilities 1.0 for Windows 95
The original Windows 95 version was released in 1995-08-?.
As a native Windows 95 tool, it supports VFAT file system used by Windows 95.
It includes Norton Image, Norton System Doctor, Norton Protection, Rescue Disk, System Information, Norton Disk Doctor, Norton UnErase, Space Wizard, Speed Disk, System Information.[4] DOS tools include Disk Editor, Disk Doctor, Pre-Installation TuneUp.[5]
CD-ROM version was announced on 1996-01-15.[6] It adds Disk Companion, Memory Companion, and Norton Utilities Companion over floppy disk version.
Disk tools included with this release are not compatible with FAT32.
The Windows version of 'Speed Disk' works with much greater speed than Microsoft's supplied defrag program, as it moved groups of clusters, not single clusters as Microsoft's Windows Disk Defragmenter. Changes in the way Windows operates meant that many of the old utilities were either dropped completely or replaced with GUI based versions. However, with the advent of Windows XP onwards, Norton's 'Speed Disk' reverted back to single-cluster defragmentation.[citation needed]
[edit] Norton Utilities 2.0 for Windows 95
It was announced on 1996-10-07.[7]
It supports Windows 95.
It includes Norton CrashGuard with Anti-Freeze, Norton System Genie, Norton AntiVirus, LiveUpdate, System Genie, Registry Editor, System Doctor, System Benchmark, Disk Benchmark, Multimedia Benchmark, Speed Disk, Space Wizard.[8]
Disk utilities now support FAT32.[9]
A LiveUpdate fix was released for Norton Utilities 2.0 for Windows 95.[10]
[edit] Norton Utilities for Windows NT 4.0
Originally called Norton Utilities 2.0 for Windows NT during prerelease[11], it was announced on 1997-01-27.[12]
It includes Norton Disk Doctor, Norton Speed Disk, Norton System Information, Norton System Doctor, Norton Protection/UnErase, Live Update.
Norton Disk Doctor, Speed Disk support FAT 16 and NTFS file systems.
It does not include DOS Unerase, so files deleted from FAT partition needs to be handled by Norton Utilities for Windows 95/98.[13]
[edit] Norton Utilities 3.0 for Windows 95
It was announced on 1997-11-10.[14]
It includes Norton WinDoctor, Norton Web Services, LiveUpdate Pro, Norton CrashGuard 3.0, Norton Zip Rescue, Norton System Doctor, Norton SpeedStart, Norton Optimization Wizard, Speed Disk.
Via the use of LiveUpdate, a Speed Disk patch is available to take advantage of Windows 98's application launch enhancements.[15]
[edit] Marketing
Symantec announced it had sponsored a bug-a-thon between USC and UCLA during the final development stages of the latest product release of Norton Utilities 3.0. The software began shipping on November 21.[16]
[edit] Norton Utilities 4.0
It was announced on 1999-02-16.[17]
Although the 'for Windows' name was dropped from the products, it still appears in support sites.[18]
It supports Windows 95 and 98.
It includes Norton SystemCheck, Registry Doctor Scan, Norton WinDoctor, Connection Doctor, Norton WipeInfo, Norton CrashGuard 4.0, Norton Zip Rescue, Norton Disk Doctor, Norton UnErase, a six-month subscription to Norton Web Services for only $6.95.
[edit] Marketing
On 1999-05-13, Symantec offered price reduction and rebates on Norton SystemWorks 2.0 and Norton Utilities 4.0.[19]
Early order includes Net Nanny Internet filter software.[20]
[edit] Norton Utilities 2000 (4.5)
It was announced on 1999-08-23.[21]
It supports Windows 95 and 98.
It includes Norton SpeedDisk, Norton System Check, Norton Disk Doctor, Norton Zip Rescue, free 3-month subscription to Norton Web Services.
[edit] Norton Utilities 2001 (5.0)
It was announced on 2000-08-29.[22]
It supports Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000.
It includes Norton SpeedDisk, Norton Optimization Wizard, Norton Disk Doctor, Norton WinDoctor, Norton System Doctor, and Norton System Check.
Disk tools now support USB and FireWire drives via Windows.[23]
[edit] Norton Utilities 2002 (6.0)
This product was not announced.
It supports Windows 98 and higher, up to Windows 2000 and XP.
It includes Norton SpeedDisk, Norton System Doctor, Norton UnErase, Norton DiskDoctor, Norton WinDoctor, System Information, Wipe Info.
[edit] Norton Utilities 2003
It was only included with Norton SystemWorks 2003.
[edit] Norton Utilities 2004
It was only included with Norton SystemWorks 2004.
[edit] Norton Utilities 2005
It was only included with Norton SystemWorks 2005.
It supports Windows 98 or higher.
It includes Norton Protection, Speed Disk, Norton Optimization Wizard, Norton System Doctor, UnErase Wizard, Norton Disk Doctor, Norton WinDoctor, System Information, Wipe Info, Image, Norton File Compare, Norton Registry Editor, Norton Registry Tracker, and Explorer Shell Extension.[24]
[edit] Norton Utilities 2007
It was only included with Norton SystemWorks 2007.
[edit] Norton Utilities (14.0)
The revival of Norton Utilities as standalone software was announced on 2009-02-03.[25]
The program supports Windows XP and Vista (32/64-bit).
It includes Registry Defragmenter, Registry Cleaners, Disk Cleaner, Disk Defragmenter, Startup Manager, Service Manager, Restore Center, System Optimizer, Process Viewer, and Performance Test.
The product licence was changed to allow it to be used on up to 3 household PCs.
[edit] Receptions
PC Pro rated Norton Utilities 14 with 1 star (out of 6) for 'an overpriced collection of optimisation tools that falls far short of its promise.'[26]
[edit] Norton Utilities for Macintosh
Norton Utilities for Macintosh was a separate utility suite for the Mac OS, providing much of the same features as the equivalent Windows version.
[edit] 1.0
It was released in 1990.
It runs on a Mac Plus with 1MiB system memory.
Disk tools support HFS file system only. Support for the Apple Hard Disk 20 was not explicitly mentioned.
When Apple released System 7, Norton Utilities for the Macintosh needed to be updated in order to run safely. This proved to be a recurring story in the history of this utility; early versions was highly regarded for a while, but proved to be specifically hazardous to use with newer disk structures and operating systems.
[edit] 2.0
It was released in 1992.
It includes Disk Editor, Norton Backup for Macintosh.[27] It also added features in Symantec Utilities for Macintosh II.[28]
[edit] 3.x
3.0 was released in August 1994. It supports PowerPC but Speed Disk 3.0 can cause data loss.
- Version 3.1 released in September 1994, corrected Speed Disk
[edit] 3.2
It was released in October 1995, which supports larger than 4 GiB.
This version was bundled with Small Business Macintosh 6500/250 and 4400/200.[29]
- Version 3.2.1 Update from 3.2
- Version 3.2.3 Update from 3.2.x
- Version 3.2.4 Update from 3.2.x fix for Mac OS 7.6
[edit] 3.5
It was announced on 1997-05-12.[30]
It runs on Mac with Motorola 68020-68040 CPUs and Power Mac G3 using Mac OS 7.1-8.6.
It includes Norton Crashguard, Speed Disk, Norton Disk Doctor, Disk Editor, FileSaver, UnErase, Volume Recover, Wipe Info, System Info, DiskLight, FastFind.
Norton CrashGuard replaced Norton Fastback and Floppier.
- Version 3.5.1 released in July 1997, support Mac OS 8
- Version 3.5.2 released in November 1997, improves support of HFS+ file system.
- Version 3.5.3 released in January 1998, identical to 3.5.2, only the version of the OS on the CD; this is the latest version which support Macintosh 68K computers
[edit] 4.0
It was announced on 1998-09-14.[31] For the first time, the tools are now run on native PowerPC Macintosh computers. It adds support of Mac OS Extended Format and HFS+ file system.
It supports PowerPC Mac (up to G3) using Mac OS 7.5 and above (up to 8.6).
It includes Norton Disk Doctor, File Saver, Unerase, and Volume Recover, Norton CrashGuard.
- Version 4.0.1 released October 1998
- Version 4.0.2 released December 1998
- Version 4.0.3 released February 1999
- Version 4.0.4 released June 1999
[edit] 5.0
It was announced on 1999-07-21.[32]
It supports PowerPC Mac G3 and G4 using Mac OS 8.0-9.1.
Update was available to make the tools compatible with Mac OS 9.[33]
- Version 5.0.2 released November 1999, was released to correct an issue with FileSaver and issues with the invisible FileSaver data files
- Version 5.0.3 released June 2000, addresses further early iBook issues and DiskLight
[edit] 6.0
It was announced on 2000-10-25.[34]
It supports PowerPC Mac using Mac OS 8.1 and above.
It includes Norton FileSaver, Speed Disk.
- Version 6.0.2 released June 2001
- Version 6.0.3 released October 2001
- Version 6.0.4 latest version which support Mac OS classic (Mac OS 8.1 through 9.2.2)
[edit] 7.0
The product was not announced.
It runs on Mac OS 8, 9, and new OS X support. OS X tools run on PowerPC G3 Mac (except Beige G3). However, the OS X tools have not been tested on Mac OS X later than 10.2.6, and is known to be incompatible with Mac OS X v10.3 (Panther).[35]
It includes Norton Utilities 6.0, Norton Disk Doctor, Speed Disk, FileSaver, UnErase, Volume Recover, LiveUpdate.
Speed Disk does not run on Mac OS X, except by booting with Norton Utilities 7.0 CD.
[edit] 8.0
The product was not announced. The package itself was simply label 'Norton Utilities 8.0', but it was called Norton Utilities for Macintosh 8.0 in support pages.
All OS X tools are now native OS X-based, but it can still boot CD that can boot into Mac OS 9.
It includes Wipe Info, Speed Disk, Volume Recover, Norton FileSaver, UnErase, LiveUpdate.
8.0.1 added support of Mac OS X 10.3.[36]
8.0.2 added support of G5 model Macintosh released before December 2004, 1.25 GHz eMac, and various Mac G4 notebooks.[37] However, some tools may present errors when running Mac OS X 10.4.[38]
[edit] End of life
In 2004, Symantec confirmed it had stopped developing Norton Utilities for Macintosh and Norton SystemWorks for Macintosh, and concentrate its efforts solely on Internet security products for the Mac.[39]
[edit] Symantec Utilities for Macintosh
Symantec Utilities for Macintosh (SUM) was a set of system utilities from Symantec, developed before Symantec had acquired Peter Norton Computing. Later SUM tools may have shared code with Norton Utilities for Macintosh.
[edit] 1.1
It was published in 1988.
It supports non-SCSI drives (HD20, MacBottom, HyperDrive are explicitly listed) and also supports MFS floppy disks in a limited way.
It runs on Mac 512Ke, Plus, SE, Mac II (ie not 512K or 128K) with System v4.1 and Finder v5.3 or higher.[40]
[edit] 2.0
It was released after Symantec had acquired Peter Norton Computing, in year 1990.
It runs on 1MB Macintosh with System 4.2 or higher.
It includes similar recovery tools, but lacked the high degree of file-recovery automation available with Norton Utilities for Macintosh.[41]
[edit] Norton Utilities for Unix
In 1990, Peter Norton Computing developed a Unix version of Norton Utilities, in cooperation with Segue Software and INTERACTIVE Systems Corp.[42] This version of Norton Utilities was available up to 1992, when Interactive Systems stopped marketing the software.[43] In February 1994, AlmondSeed Software Inc. licensed the software and released it as "The Almond Utilities for UNIX".[43] AlmondSeed Software released the Utilities for SCO UNIX[43] and Sun Solaris.[44]
[edit] Competitors
[edit] Current
- Acronis disk director
- iolo technologies System Mechanic
- Disk Utility (built into Mac OS X)
- GnuWin32
- Windows built-in tools, Windows Support Tools, and Windows Resource Kit Tools
[edit] Historical
- Central Point Software's PC Tools
- Paul Mace Software's Mace Utilities
- Helix Software's Nuts and Bolts Utilities (later incorporated into McAfee Utilities and then McAfee Office when Helix was acquired by Network Associates)
- McAfee's PC Medic
- Ontrack SystemSuite
[edit] References
- ^ The Norton Utilities 6.0. (file management software) (evaluation)
- ^ The Norton Utilities 7.0. (file management software) (Software Review) (Evaluation)
- ^ The Norton Utilities 8.0. (disk/file management software) (Productivity Choice) (Software Review) (Evaluation)
- ^ A new version of an old friend
- ^ Norton Utilities for Windows 95
- ^ Symantec Announces First Time Multimedia Offering for Norton Utilities
- ^ Symantec Announces Norton Utilities 2.0 for Windows 95 The Expert's Choice to Solve Today's Computer Problems
- ^ Norton Utilities 2.0 for Windows 95 Turns the PC into a Fine-Tuned Instrument
- ^ New and Newer
- ^ Symantec Offers LiveUpdate Solution For Norton Utilities In Record Time
- ^ Symantec Offers Free Download of Norton Speed Disk Preview for Windows NT 4.0
- ^ Symantec Announces Norton Utilities for Windows NT 4.0
- ^ How to use Norton Utilities on a home network
- ^ Symantec Announces Norton Utilities 3.0 for Windows 95
- ^ Windows 98 Tips and Tricks By Ed Ellers
- ^ Symantec Hosts Norton Utilities 'Bug-A-Thon' Showdown Between USC and UCLA
- ^ New Norton Utilities 4.0 the Most Effective, Intelligent Problem-Solving Tool Yet
- ^ Technical support for old versions of Norton Utilities is expired
- ^ Symantec Makes Safe Migration to MS Office 2000 Affordable through Special Promotion on Norton SystemWorks, Norton Utilities
- ^ Free Net Nanny Filtering Software Offered with Norton Utilities 4.0 During Six Week On-line Retail Promotion
- ^ Norton Utilities 2000 Makes Computer Maintenance and Repair Easy and Fast
- ^ Norton AntiVirus 2001, Norton Utilities 2001, Norton CleanSweep 2001 Ensure High Performance Across All Windows Based Systems
- ^ Norton Utilities compatibility with various drive technologies
- ^ NSW 2005 review
- ^ Symantec Reintroduces Norton Utilities, Giving New Life to Sluggish PCs
- ^ PC Pro: Product Reviews: Norton Utilities 14
- ^ Industry Figure Tom Chappell
- ^ Norton upgrade adds SUM improvements. (Software Review)
- ^ Apple to Bundle Norton Utilities for Macintosh with New Small Business Mac
- ^ Crash Prevention And Improved System Performance Offered In New Version Of Norton Utilities For Macintosh 3.5
- ^ Norton Utilities for Macintosh Now PowerPC Native, HFS+ Compatible
- ^ New Norton Utilities for Macintosh v5.0 Keeps Macs Running at Peak Performance Levels
- ^ Norton Utilities for Macintosh 5.0, Norton AntiVirus for Macintosh 6.0 Compatible with Mac OS 9
- ^ Symantec Announces New Versions Of Norton Utilities And Norton AntiVirus For Macintosh
- ^ Symantec Macintosh products and compatibility with Mac OS X
- ^ What's new in Norton Utilities for Macintosh 8.0.x after running LiveUpdate
- ^ Cannot boot from the Norton Utilities for Macintosh 8.0 or Norton SystemWorks for Macintosh 3.0 CD on a new Macintosh
- ^ Symantec product compatibility with Mac OS X 10.4 (code-named Tiger)
- ^ TMO Scoop - Symantec Confirms Norton Utilities & SystemWorks' Demise
- ^ Notes on the Hard Disk 20 (HD20)
- ^ Symantec Utilities for Macintosh - Sum Ii - Software Review
- ^ "Peter Norton entered Unix computer software market". The Los Angeles Business Journal. 1990-05-07. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_n19_v12/ai_9235067. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
- ^ a b c AlmondSeed Software, Inc (1994-02-14). AlmondSeed Software Announces The Almond Utilities for UNIX. Press release. http://www.almondseed.com/pr1.htm. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
- ^ AlmondSeed Software, Inc (1995-04-21). AlmondSeed Software Announces Shipment of The Almond Utilities for UNIX for Solaris 2.4. Press release. http://www.almondseed.com/pr3.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
[edit] External links
[edit] Mac
- Symantec Norton Utilities 8.0 page
- Compatibility between older versions of Symantec software and the Mac OS - Symantec.com Knowledge Base
- What's new in Norton Utilities for Macintosh 6.0.2 and 6.0.3 - Symantec.com Knowledge Base
- What's new in Norton Utilities for Macintosh 7.0.x after running LiveUpdate - Symantec.com Knowledge Base
- Review: Norton Utilities 3.5 - About This Particular Macintosh
