Norton GoBack 4.0 review:
5 stars (Problem with GoBack is Hardware (bios) related to Intel processor on Dell Laptop) - I've been using GoBack since version 2. I upgraded to version 3 for WinXP. In the last 5 or 6 years I'd only come across 2 hardware related problems that caused a problem for GoBack: I had a problem with a computer that had a GeForce2 video card, and I had a problem with a Sony Vaio computer because the mbr had been changed by GoBack and this didn't allow the Sony to run the program to burn the System and Software recovery backup discs that you need if the actual hard drive dies. I didn't find a work around for the video card problem and just changed the video card to a GeForce 4. For the Sony I uninstalled GoBack, ran the recovery disc creation software, and reinstalled GoBack. The Recovery Disc program is a run once program anyway...



Last week, a client that is using the Sony desktop bought a DEll Inspiron 6000 laptop and wanted it set up like his Sony as far as GoBack and another program called CasperXP which he uses to create a bootable copy of his whole system with all files, programs, etc. Every once in awhile his voice dictation software (Dragon) trashes his sound drivers on the Sony and he simply uses GoBack to restore to a complete working system again. Occasionally, something he does to his system has happened far enough in the past, usually due to DVD files using up the GoBack buffer and he can't GoBack far enough to fix a problem, so he uses CasperXP to copy his backup OS from a second drive that we installed. He backs up his entire drive to a second drive every week, and it's bootable!



Anyway, after installing GoBack on the Dell laptop, the machine would no longer boot. I suspected the problem was with the Dell hidden partitions they install for system recovery (as of July 15, 2005 Dell no longer ships the recovery discs and there is no program on the machine to burn them).



I told my client to call Dell as I think these discs should be included as he bought the system and shouldn't have to worry about getting them later if the hard drive fails. After being passed around to 4 or 5 people they finally decided to send him the discs and we reinstalled XP Pro after first removing the hidden partitions from the drive. We gained about 5 gigs back on a 80 gig drive, but we loose the Cntrl+F11 automatic system restore function from Dell.



We installed GoBack and damn! the program still wouldn't allow the OS to boot (We were getting a Blue Screen with an IRQ_ problem. After exploring the bios on the Dell laptop I noticed a setting in the "Security" area called "CPU XD Support". OK, what's this? Not much on Google, so the bios gives a description like "Execute Disable Bit Capability".



(...)



Searching this pdf file for "Execute Disable" lets you find out a little more about the function and the fact that this is a known problem with Intel processors and there is a planned fix. Apparently this is some sort of hardware solution in the processor for some type of "buffer overrun" error or attack.



The solution was to turn of this capability in the Dell bios. GoBack and all other features of XP pro are running fine.



To be fair to GoBack, Adaptec, then Roxio, and now Norton can not control a buggy CPU setting and I'm afraid that many manufacturers that are using this obsure setting in the bios for the Celeron chipset are going to have problems with GoBack and probably other softwares that will get branded as "crap" due to hardware changes.
5 stars (It really works!) - I've had this product installed on my desktop for years. It's the only reason my old computer is still in use today. Unlike system restore, this program works for me every single time...and I have had to use it too many times to count. It sure has saved me numerous calls to tech support and the repair shop. Now I need to install it on my laptop!
4 stars (Good, but one major drawback) - I had to uninstall the first 4.0 and go back to the last Roxio version until Norton fixed a few bugs, but it has since worked as well as the 3.x versions. On WinMe, it has saved me countless times; instead of wasting hours figuring out what the problem was, you simply restore the computer. If you come home and suddenly can't connect to the internet, or if you installed a program with unexpected consequences, all you have to do is restore the computer to, say, yesterday, and this will fix 99.9% of all software related problems.

Except for its own virtual partition, the rest of your protected hard drive(s) will be EXACTLY as before (unlike system restore) with the opportunity to import any changed files (text, photo, etc.) from the virtual partition. The PROBLEM is that instead of saving a drive image, it seems to save a record of all changes instead, which means if you process many files, like sound files, the GoBack buffer will fill up rapidly, even if you are using a non-protected removeable drive to store such files, because GoBack monitors ALL changes, including changes to tmp or bak files. GoBack will then suspend "logging" and you will lose all your restore points. Even the "Auto back" option to save a particular restore point will get overwritten by what it calls "massive file activity," which could consist of digitizing a few tapes or cds. The program is wonderful as long as you don't do any significant file processing. One other drawback: Norton's tech support is worse than Roxio's; they do not seem to understand college level English.

Norton GoBack 4.0 is the CD-ROM version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around  44.99USD.