That's right. And Symantec doesn't tell you that until it's too late.
My Norton Internet Security 2006 was up for subscription renewal. I had purchased it over a year ago as a bundle with Password Manager 2004. PM 2004 is a nifty little app that prefills my id's and passwords as well as name and address into windows and web forms. Very handy for not having to remember all of those little passwords. And I'd rather store them in an encrypted database instead of little sticky papers.
Sure, there are downloadable widgets for free, but those come with adverts and frankly I can't trust some fly by night widget company. I can of course trust Symantec...or can I?
So when launching the subscription renewal page at symantec.com, I was greeted by a marketing initiative to get me to upgrade to the all brand new Norton 360. The price differential wasn't bad, and the app got some decent reviews on CNET..so what the heck?
During the install, as expected, it went through an uninstall of NIS 2006. But then it went on to uninstall my Password Manager. I let it continue, rubbing my hands together, hastily waiting for all those upgraded goodies.
Guess what? Norton 360 has no Password Manager application. Anywhere. And I lost my database in the uninstall. Online chat with Symantec...that was a waste. I called support in India. The agent told me that no other Norton products could run along side Norton 360. I told him I understood about NIS, but why Password Manager?? Why delete an application and provide absolutely no upgrade for it. He could only sympathize with me and say that this was the first call he had ever received regarding the issue.
I told him that this information was nowhere to be found on the site, that I was pushed to upgrade during my simple renewal process, and in fact if you do a search on symantec.com for "Password Manager 2004" you are instructed that the application is no longer available, but there are new upgrades. First on the list...Norton 360.
File this one under you've got to be kidding me. If you do plan on upgrading, there is a silver lining. It seems that Password Manager 2004 does work with Norton 360. I still had my downloadable file and product key and reinstalled in on my Windows XP laptop. I can't verify if this will work on Vista.
I lost my database and if you are reading this you may have too. But if I can save just one person, I will have accomplished something. Before installing Norton 360, open Password Manager and backup your profile, by clicking the 'Backup Your Data' button. After you reinstall the application you will be able to restore your passwords.
You've been warned.
