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Symantec Norton Ghost 14.0
Price: £39.99

Features
Performance
Ease of use
Value for money
Overall

Reviewed By: Andy Shaw

This review updated: 22/06/2008
Featured in magazine:
Issue 188
Manufacturer Contacts:
Supplier: Symantec
Tel: 0870 243 1080
Web Address: www.symantec.com/en/uk


Best Price:
We've said it before and we'll say it again: backing up your computer is one of the most important things you can do. Total hardware failure doesn't happen very often but when it does, it can be devastating. Norton Ghost is Symantec's no-nonsense solution to the problem – a program that makes backing up your PC as pain-fee as possible, leaving you with nothing to worry about.

Features:
The software essentially runs two types of back-up. It takes your entire hard disk and makes copies of it, so you can restore your computer if the hard disk fails completely. It also performs regular back-ups of any particular files or folders you want, so you've always got a second copy of your important work. Both types of back-up can be done incrementally, saving only the changes each time, making it a speedy and efficient process. The program will write to any kind of storage device, including CDs, DVDs, networked hard disks, portable hard disks, USB memory devices and online storage you can connect to via FTP (File Transfer Protocol). The only thing is doesn't offer is its own built-in online storage.

Performance:
While the software performs its work, it'll suggest making copies of your files to keep away from your home – this is in case of burglary or fire, where your back-ups could disappear along with your computer. You can initiate back-ups at specific dates and times, or when particular events occur, such as new software is installed, someone turns the computer on or when Symantec's malware ThreatCon (http://tinyurl.com/2gwkte) reaches a certain level. With all back-ups, there's a Performance bar with which you control how much processing power is being used, so the impact on your computer can be kept to a minimum.

Ease of use:
Although there are basic tools, such as a wizard, to guide you through setting up your back-ups, Norton Ghost is sophisticated software offering a lot of options. There's a printed manual with the software to which less-experienced PC users may have to refer in order to get the most out of the system. However, it isn't all that difficult to squeeze the basics out of it and, so long as you've got something to store your back-ups on (such as an external hard disk), getting protected is relatively straightforward.

Value for money:
This is about the most you could spend on back-up without getting into the professional arena, though it could be argued that this software would be more than sufficient for small businesses as well as home consumers. Does this make it over-powered and overpriced? To some extent, but it's our firm belief that there's no point compromising on back-up and, if you want a sure-fire, reliable way to make a variety of back-ups, you can trust Norton Ghost to do the job well. Still, a smidgen of secure online back-up space might have been a nice addition, for the price.

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• Symantec Norton Ghost 14.0
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