[edit: multiple ideas split into individual posts]
I keep reading in Norton Forum about botched NIS 2011 installs and people getting viruses that cripple their PCs or having infections when they install NIS 2011.
Here's my suggestion to eliminate a lot of the issues.
1. Add a Bootable Recovery Tool CD to every boxed retail version or incorporated with the downloadable version. CD execution would require key provided in retail box or separate download. [http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Product-Ideas/Add-NBRT-To-Every-NIS-Sold-or-Downloaded/idi-p/410070]
2. Block all installations of NIS until BRT CD has been run. This could be down by registry key update. This would insure at least most of the malware on the PC has been removed. [http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Product-Ideas/Block-all-installations-of-NIS-until-BRT-CD-has-been-run/idi-p/410072]
3. Include a stripped down version of Ghost with every NIS installation. The Ghost ver,. would just do image/restore backups of the OS partition. [http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Product-Ideas/Include-a-stripped-down-version-of-Ghost-with-every-NIS/idi-p/410074]
4. NIS installer would install Ghost first and then take an image backup prior to any NIS installation. This would ensure system recovery in the event of a failed/problem NIS installation. The Ghost software would also have to have partition manager capabilty to be able to resize a single partition HDD to create a recovery partition. Options would have to be provided for redirection to additional HDDs if so desired. [http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Product-Ideas/Install-Ghost-and-Take-an-Image-Backup-Prior-To-NIS-Installation/idi-p/410076]
5. Ghost software would default to weekly image backups thereby insuring system recovery in the event of serious system malware infection or botched software installation issues.[http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Product-Ideas/Ghost-Should-Default-to-Weekly-Image-Backups/idi-p/410078]
[6. http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Product-Ideas/Provide-Repair-Capability-to-NIS/idi-p/409478]
I know this is a lot to ask but this should reduce Symantec' tech support load considerabilty and greatly enhance customer satisfaction.