No OS X Norton Speed Disk

Posted:
in Mac Software edited January 2014
Was anyone else extremely disappointed by the fact that Norton did not bother to give us an OS X native version of Speed Disk with NUM 7. They even went so far as to remove its button from the native Utilities launcher.



Their "solution" is to have users boot into OS 9 and use the included classic version of NSD (same version as before).



This solution DOES NOT work as advertised. Three times last night I tried to use Speed Disk 6.0.3 on an OS X volume, but it said that my B Tree Header was broken--run NDD, and tried to launch NDD 6. I quit NDD 6, ran NDD 7, and it said that my disk was fine. Back to NSD, no go. I really wanted to defrag my disk, so I formatted my system partition, reinstalled OS X, and this time NSD worked.



Hmmmm, I seem to remember many horror stories from people whose OS X volumes were damaged by NSD 6, now this is what Symantec calls OS X compatibility??!??!



One could expect this level of quality from a beta product, but from a shipping one (?!?), esp. one that accesses every file on your disk at a very low level, erases it, and deposits it somewhere else on your disk. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />



Also, considering how OS X is a highly fragmented system install, and considering how an OS X optimization profile would have its files laid out in different places than the old classic profiles, one would think that an OS X Speed Disk would have been a high priority.



Grrrrrrrr.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 14
    airslufairsluf Posts: 1,861member
  • Reply 2 of 14
    AirSluf, as I said in the above post (the paragraph with the <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> ), I was using the shipping version, not the beta.



    MacInTouch has a reader report today in which another user detailed his difficulty with having the NSW CD boot into OS 9 (it does not do X; you have to run NDD 7 and NAV 8 from the hard disk).



    <a href="http://www.macintouch.com/systemworks2.html"; target="_blank">Reader Report: Norton Systemworks 2.0</a>



    PS AirSluf, you live in Monterey? You lucky dog! I got to live there for a year.



    [ 04-01-2002: Message edited by: eizzumdm ]</p>
  • Reply 3 of 14
    moogsmoogs Posts: 4,296member
    Just as I suspected, NUM is still crap. Only they would make an OS X product that forces you to boot into Classic to use some of its "native" functionality. Symantec blows goats.
  • Reply 4 of 14
    airslufairsluf Posts: 1,861member
  • Reply 5 of 14
    jimmacjimmac Posts: 11,898member
    Hmmmm? I just purchased Norton System Works 2.0 and speed disk is listed there. It even says it will " optimize OS X. Just read the report : you can run Speed Disk from the CD, which for Optimizing isn't any different than the old version for OS 9. I've always used SD to optimize OS X and have never had any problem with it ( that's for a full year now ). So if that part is the same version that's fine with me.



    [ 04-01-2002: Message edited by: jimmac ]</p>
  • Reply 6 of 14
    moogsmoogs Posts: 4,296member
    Yes you can optimize from the CD, but it's not built for OS X (the optimization routines). One web site (I'll go find the link in a little bit) is reporting that Speed Disk is totally fvcking up the orgnization of OS X's system files, which in turn is causing *decreased* performance on some systems. Basically, it's still a product designed for OS 9. Norton is shite, per usual.



    The good news is, in this same thread there was a comment from a Micromat rep who noted that Drive 10 will soon sport a disk optimization function (update is coming soon I guess), among other things I imagine.



    Screw Symantec. They just don't give a crap (what else is new - already their products are "rebated" to get people to buy them...pathetic).



    [ 04-01-2002: Message edited by: Moogs ? ]</p>
  • Reply 7 of 14
    jimmacjimmac Posts: 11,898member
    Like I just said I've used it for a YEAR now and NO problems. I'd say that was a pretty good test. Most problems with SD come from people over optimizing their hard drive ( yes you can over use any app. like this ) trying to get a little more erg of speed out their system. Sorry, my experience with Norton has always been good.
  • Reply 8 of 14
    moogsmoogs Posts: 4,296member
    I guess we'll have to count you as one of the "lucky dozen".



    :eek:
  • Reply 9 of 14
    jimdadjimdad Posts: 209member
    I don't want to hijack this topic but does anyone here have experience of using Systemworks 1 on a new imac? The box seems to imply you can from OS9 but I've heard tales here and elsewhere of problems. does anyone have any first hand knowledge?
  • Reply 10 of 14
    jimmacjimmac Posts: 11,898member
    Moogs,



    If it was only a dozen they wouldn't still be in business. I know I've read the reports at Macintouch myself. But, I've used Norton on three different computers ( all Macs ) over the years and it's always been a life saver.



    [ 04-04-2002: Message edited by: jimmac ]</p>
  • Reply 11 of 14
    moogsmoogs Posts: 4,296member
    I was just razzin' ya Jim; I know there must be at *least* three or four dozen people out there who've had success with NUM. Seriously though, I just wish Symantec would take more care when testing their products. They obviously don't do an extensive job compared to other developers.



    As for me TechTool Pro has been a much more useful, flexible and reliable product as far as Mac trouble-shooting. There's a reason why Apple's techy guys use TTP and not NUM...but it's good NUM has worked for you regardless.
  • Reply 12 of 14
    jimmacjimmac Posts: 11,898member
    Now that I have System Works 2.0 on my computer I have to tell you...........everything is fine. Yes, to use Speed Disk you have to boot from the CD ( big deal ). On the subject of SD for something that is supposedly the same version as before it sure took a long time moving files around ( on a drive that was optimized not long ago with the version that comes with SW 1.0 ). It seems to have added a noticeable boost in quickness that I don't think is my imagination. Overall I'm very pleased with the product ( once again ).
  • Reply 13 of 14
    cowerdcowerd Posts: 579member
    On the issue of disk frag and OSx try this thread:

    <a href="http://www.macintouch.com/fragmentation.html"; target="_blank">http://www.macintouch.com/fragmentation.html</A>;

    Seems is does AND doesn't help to defrag/optimise
  • Reply 14 of 14
    jimmacjimmac Posts: 11,898member
    According to the SW users guide " Mac OS X uses a lot of temporary files that can slow disk performance ". It recomends optimizing regularly.
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