h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I bought Norton SystemWorks 3.0 for my Mac just over a week ago. Installing it and running the disk doctor caused my computer to completely crash and locked the disk so that I had to completely rebuild it, in the process losing all my files.

I was not a happy bunny. I bought it new from a seller on Amazon. I wrote to complain and got a snotty reply saying that it wasn't his/her fault and I should have done some research to see if it was compatible. The advert said it was compatible for OSX 10.1.5 or later. Mine is later. And it's not compatible. It's a clear breach of the Sale of Goods Act 1979.

I've written asking for an address so that I can serve legal papers. If I do go to court, I'll sue for damages too.

It's quite possible that Amazon may sort it out before I need to do this. I've had a prompt and courteous reply from them offering help so far. I've suggested that they seriously consider whether this seller is one they should be dealing with.

Seconds out, round one!

Ooh, let us know what Amazon do. It's got to be in their interest to sort it out quickly and simply - and to your advantage

Thanks, will do. I'm going to suggest that they put a warning on all Norton for Mac products about compatibility. I think this is a much wider issue than just my problem.

Interestingly, when I spoke to my boss at work yesterday about it without specifying which product it was, she asked if it was Norton and said she had had similar problems. I've no idea whether she has a Mac or not, so it may be that they have problems with PCs too.

Gosh, Fb! For a moment you had me confused? Is there a reason for your change of nickname - or did you just want to challenge folk (it's an anagram - yes?)?

It's a general trend at the moment; we're dressing up for Hallowe'en.

Oh, and by the way, I've always found Norton products to be the best that money can buy. On the PC, anyway.

Hi singsong snarf quiz

Oooh, I'm getting confused. Getting dressed up - sounds fun - what shall I wear?

People I've been talking to tell me different things about Norton. I have bought lots of their products over the years. I did notice that things stopped working when I got newer versions of my Mac though and I've had almost no use out of my Norton Internet Security, which can't receive updates and has been virtually useless.

Looking at the Amazon feedback site, it seems that other buyers have had similar experiences to me.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00009XFDJ/026-2953364-3864412 I didn't see this before buying; I would surely have thought twice. The advert extolling the virtues of the product were very different - certainly enough for me to succeed with a claim under the Sale of Goods Act. If I'm sufficiently annoyed, I would have a go at getting damages, at least for the paid-for downloads which I would have to pay out for again. Caveat vendor, I think!

It would be interesting to see whether people selling their stuff via Amazon are deemed to be private sellers (in which case 'as described' would still apply, or to what extent descriptions applied by Amazon to their product affect claims against them. Mind you, the box said it was suitable for OSX 10 and didn't say there weren't any versions that didn't apply to. And not working with something is entirely different to wrecking it.

It certainly seems from those comments at amazon that Norton products don't work well on Macs.

No, Gnomon. The scales have fallen from my eyes; I used to think that Norton was the bees knees. I now agree with a reviewer of SystemWorks 3.0 for Mac as 'dangerous rubbish'. I don't think I'll use their products again.

Happily, I have now received a full refund from the seller and an apology for the problems caused. I'm satisfied; I won't press for damages.

Glad to hear you got what you wanted in the end. Hope that you didn't lose too much.

Oh good: I'm glad you've had a refund and an apology. It's really the least they could do. What about the UKP5 Amazon voucher?

Yes, I'm reasonably satisfied. I had to pay for the carriage back, but I've been credited in full for the cost of the item plus the carriage to me. I don't hold grudges, so I'm sure I'll forget it soon enough, although I think I will take the lesson about buying computer type stuff from private sellers (which is what I understand that Amazon Marketplace sellers are, even though they sell under the umbrella of Amazon). Lucky for me that I know consumer law pretty well, including s75 of the Consumer Credit Act (joint and several liability of the credit card company) and I'm not easily put off. I've got one of these: http://www.nec.ac.uk/courses/product?usca_p=t&product_id=1140&category_id=508 - OK so it was a fair few years ago.

Gnomon, I lost all my photos (serve me right for not having put them on a CD), all my e-mails including addresses which aren't on my Palm, so I'll have to wait for them to contact me. I had some stored work and some really relevant bookmarks.

On the positive side, I cleared a lot of rubbish, or stuff I had in folders which practially speaking I wasn't likely to read again. Hey ho!

OK FB, you got me - what's a UKP5 Amazon voucher?

I don't have a Pound Sterling key on my Aussie computer. UKP is short for United Kingdom Pound.

Didn't you say that you hoped to get a fiver from Amazon for your trouble?

Unfortunately not, Fb - although it would cover my postage expenses.

Have you got over your cultural shock blues?

I'm sorry they're not recompensing you properly ZSF.

I think I'm over the worst of this latest bout of homesickness, thank you It'll happen again for sure, but I guess it's something I have to get used to dealing with. It's such a wretched feeling when it hits me. It's usually when I'm feeling physically run down, so having a three-day weekend from now on should help

How about your work schedules? Do you have some breathing space now? I know, I know... Websailor and I worry too much

Oh well, I've decided to put the whole Norton experience behind me. I think it helped that I was absolutely confident that I would get a good result - I wish I were so clear about other areas of my life!!!

I finished work yesterday as today is a 'student review day' at little 's school and it's half-term next week, so we're going away - to Spain. I had had three press enquiries that day - most unusual, so I referred them to our Press Office as I'm not allowed to speak to the press. Anyway, at 5 o'clock, I received a call asking for a briefing for one of our councillors ahead of a radio interview today. Bear in mind that I have to pick up little from the after-school club by 6 o'clock. I thought the only way I was going to be able to complete it by taking it home and sending it to the councillor. I contacted the press office and was told that they would handle it if I gave them the background info, so I did some frantic gathering together of the references I would have used and put them in an e-mail to the officer and phoned the after-school to say I might be late. Glory be! I made it with about two minutes in hand!

In short, work is still pressured. The cycle co-ordinator I recruited is doing well - he's recruited other instructors and is beginning to work with schools big-time. I've just recruited another member of staff on another project (the previous one left for a permanent job) and she will start as soon as her references and medical come throug, so I'll need to do induction training for her.

My projects working with Transport for London seem to be going well. I've just finished amendments on my road safety assemblies project. Being a Virgo, I'm really good at proof-reading.

So, to cut a long story short, I'm still extremely busy.

Oooooh... enjoy Spain Switch off and don't think about anything but having a relaxing time - lots of good food, sunshine and lie-ins

And don't forget to tell us all about it