norton internet security 2009

[mandimoo]

i bought this for �13 + �6 delivery. the item has arrived in a city link linkletter package which i signed for as received in good condition. when i opened it up later, the package inside has been opened, so i can see the 'void if removed' label and the cd i have (not in nortons box) says 'norton internet security 2009 system builder edition'. have i got the right thing? and what do you think the implication of the package being 'void'?

[ChuckFickens]

Where did you buy it from?

Firstly if it's been opened it may of course already have been installed by the person that sold it to you. but you'll soon find out when you install it and try and activate it.

and the system builders edition (otherwise known as a OEM (original equipment manufacturer) version) is just as it says on the box, it's a version intended for people that actually build and supply computers. the main differences are, it doesn't come in a box and you will not get the technical support that would come with a full, retail, version. However other than that it is identical to the full retail version once installed.

Basically as long as it installs and activates OK then you have the full version for �19, though many (myself included) would say that you paid �19 too much for it!!

[VHG]

Wel I think the first mistake you made was buying Norton Internet security. There is plenty of FREE PC security software out there so no need to buy any security software.

You dont say if you bought it new from a online shop like Amazon, or second hand from ebay or similar site so not sure if the fact that it is open is bad or not.

If it was second hand someone may have already installed it and used the license.

The fact it says "System Builders Edition" means it was meant for someone who was building a PC (maybe a large company like Dell, or a small computer builder).

This differs from the Retail version that is sold in a box in places like PC world.

You may find the support options are different for the System Builder edition than the Retail version, but I dont know enought about Norton's products to help you in that area.

Here is the support page for Norton System Builder.

http://www.symantec.com/partners/programs/chan nel/detail.jsp

[VHG]

I note the first sentence in the web page above says:

"System Builder Products may not be advertised or sold on a stand-alone basis. Each System Builder Product must be sold in conjunction with a computer system, unless otherwise approved in writing by an authorized representative of Symantec".

So whoever was offering it for sale was breaking that rule straight away.

[mandimoo]

thank you VHG, i think that will be the line i take with them. i need the support of a retail version cos im rubbish at computers (thus being hoodwinked into buying this). they also say on their site that products cannot be returned but as they are not supposed to be selling it anyway i think i will make some gentle threats about reporting them unless i get my money back. ta very much.

[rojash]

"i need the support of a retail version"

In that case, you definitely bought the wrong product... unless you are fluent in Hindi :-)

[ACtheTROLL]

as chuck says If it's an oem version it won't come in a pretty box - often oem discs come on a spindle - or in paper envelopes
(because of it's rep - I have no idea about norton'e oem packaging)

as for which virus packages .... the question gift that keeps giving and giving

I know my opinion (and this rant is just "my opinion") comes from working in a corporate setup - and it's over cautious - but free packages are only worth what you pay for them... (I use kaspersky on all my machines)

I've got to stick with the view that (with the greatest respect to everyone - and there are some verrrry clued up anoraks here)

none of us here know enough to recommend a good package - at least from personally having tested them in a controlled environment.

I "know" avira got good writeups recently ... (and it does have a free version available which uses the same detection engine - so is probably better than AVG in every way.
... I "know" norton is still regarded as a resource hog ... and I "know" avg isn't even placed in the detection reviews for anything other than being free...
and I only "know" any of this from reading reviews from what are considered to be trusted sources.

this is one of only a few areas that "I use" ... "and no problems" means absolutely nothing ...
I run a machine without any protection whatsoever - it's a surfing machine (I don't even use it on sites I log on to) and it's been functioning for 6 months (but I also know it's riddled with nasties)

to be extreme
I had a great uncle who was in both wars ... and fought on the somme and dunkirk landings ... the worst (physical)injury he had was breaking a tooth on toffee sent from home ...

it doesn't mean that the battles were safe .... it just means he was lucky.

the best source of what's good and what's not isn't here - it's to be got