sent following question to symantec -
ABOUT TO INSTALL NORTON SYSTEMWORKS PREMIER 2008. ONLY HAVE SERVICE PACK 1 ON MY PC. DO NOT WANT TO INSTALL MICROSOFT SP2. (IT'S TOO BIG AND I DON'T WANT MICROSOFT
FIREWALL). WILL I BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY INSTALL YOUR PRODUCT WITHOUT HAVING SP2 ?

here's their answer -
"please note that the 2008 version of NSW is designed in such a way that it can be installed only on XP Service pack 2 and Windows Vista Operating system. Therefore you cannot install the program unless you
install Servics Pack 2.

is this true? why? i use third party firewall and anti-spyware and would like to avoid the huge (265mb) microsoft SP2.

thanks for your time.

"is this true?"

You got it straight from the horses mouth. If Symantec doesn't know, how the heck would anyone else?

"would like to avoid the huge (265mb) microsoft SP2"

What? Are you still using a 10GB hard drive? 265MB is a relatively small download, these days.

You can always disable the Windows firewall.

Please let us know if you found someone's advice to be helpful.

>> "would like to avoid the huge (265mb) microsoft SP2"

What? Are you still using a 10GB hard drive? 265MB is a relatively small download, these days. <<

If you do the update via Windows Update you wont even need to download that much. You will only get what you need which on average is about 100 Mbs. The 265 Mb download is designed for corporate administrators who may have hundreds of machines to update and contains everything. Not everyone needs everything.

Get SP2. There are lots of good reasons why you should have it and no real good reasons not to.

Stuart

I think the real advice here is not to install Norton System works unless you're a really big fan of bloatware that sucks every ounce of power until your system acts like a Pentium 1, especially since the OP has a Pentium 3 to begin with.

Asus P5N-E SLI
Intel Dual Core E6750 2.66Ghz
Asus EN8600GTS 256Meg
2 gig Crucial 800Mhz DDR2
WD 320 gig SATA 2
Lite On 20x20 DVD-RW
CoolerMaster Mystique case w/500 watt PSU

Regardless of whether you install Norton or not, I would advise that you install XP SP2.

There are many benefits to SP2 and there are disadvantages to not installing it. As for the firewall, you can chose your own and disable the XP built in firewall.

I use zonealarm pro on my XP SP2.

___________________________________________
☺ When everything else fails, read the instructions.

All good answers above. I would concur with the staement about Norton. If you have already broken the shrinkwrap, which appears to be the case, then at least create a restore point in WinXP prior to installing Norton.

On another note, if you bought Norton because you have some issues you need to clear up DON'T install SP2 until you get the issues resolved. Installing SP2 to a system that currently has some issues may result in BSODs and won't clear up the issues. (edit)

If the above speculation concerning HDrive size is correct, do yourself a favor and get a larger drive. If the system is more than two years old you may have problems installing a HDrive larger than 127GB. If unsure go for 120GB unit. They are still available. For help on where to get one post back.

Spend 256mb on SP2, scrap the Norton idea and you will save yourself one helluva lot of headaches... believe me!

Once I thought I was wrong, now I'm not so sure!

I will have to agree (atarileaf) Dump Norton,
It is one of the worst AV's you can use.
try Avast or AVG and install a firewall like
sygate or a older version of ZoneAlarm...

Thanks Ghostman, and thats actually exactly what I do, I use AVG and Zonealarm and my PC and my wallet both love me. :)

Buying Norton to protect your PC is like hiring Homer Simpson to guard your donuts.

Asus P5N-E SLI
Intel Dual Core E6750 2.66Ghz
Asus EN8600GTS 256Meg
2 gig Crucial 800Mhz DDR2
WD 320 gig SATA 2
Lite On 20x20 DVD-RW
CoolerMaster Mystique case w/500 watt PSU