Version 24 has removed local backup

This update sucks. Local backup is essential for me. What is the best alternative to Norton?
Any suggestions are welcome. I’m gone!!!

@Mindwalker Use intelligent updater:

Edited: Please have a look at my post in another thread regarding remaining on an older version. Please note that- If you use this suggestion you are doing so at your own risk as I am. Neither myself nor Norton will be responsible for any negative results. Please backup / image your HD prior to making any changes to your Norton install or these settings.

SA

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NICE! There you go folks. SoulAsylum just gave us the permanent workaround. Shut off Live Update, download the virus definitions, and update manually.

Thank you!

I want to stress this part of my post:

Please have a look at my post in another thread regarding remaining on an older version. Please note that- If you use this suggestion you are doing so at your own risk as I am. Neither myself nor Norton will be responsible for any negative results. Please backup / image your HD prior to making any changes to your Norton install or these settings.

SA

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I read this thread today, and have supplied the below comments in thread → (Backup to Local Disk / 249180)

I totally agree with all of the comments that have complained about Norton backup to an external device. I have opened issues dating back to 10/10, that auto-close every 4 or 5 days. I have never seen a Problem Management system handled in this manner, especially when you have paying customers.

My case(s) have been escalated to support, I would expect level-2, since 10/14, but I have yet to receive any kind of contact for them.

I first noticed v24.x on a spare Win 11 laptop on mine, and now it has auto-upgraded to v24.x on my other laptops. This is is NOT good. Like I have advised to Norton Support via Chat and my cases -

I know we can revert back to v22 version by uninstalling and reinstalling v22, that bad part is there is NO (that I am aware of) way to unload off all of the customized Backup settings (folders to include/exclude)

Bottom line, Norton needs to revert their backup processes to something like v22.x where the Paying CUSTOMER gets to determine where they want their data stored - external, cloud or both via their backup options.

I too am a 20+ year Norton customer, and I am strongly consider going to a competitor product unless Norton can return the functionality they removed.

P.S. - I realize Norton was taken over by Gen Digital

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I’m equally frustrated and annoyed. Spent hours trying to connect with Norton support thinking that there was an issue with my version Norton after a software crash and forced remove & reinstall. Eventually I did speak with a rep that just “escalated” the case to a supervisor. Authorized the supervisor to connect to my PC remotely and watched while he snooped around my PC flashing this screen and that and then was told they would have the technical team look at the files that were downloaded. I was assured that they would call back in three days. Never did. Finally called back a full week later to say that the tech team is looking into the issue and there is no current solution… a "new version will be available "in the future, maybe months away. NEVER ONCE DID NORTON REPS SIMPLY EXPLAIN THAT THE LOCAL BACKUP OPTION HAD BEEN REMOVED INTENTIONALLY.

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All please be aware any case you open with support WILL auto-close in about 4 days unless you request it remain open. This problem management process followed on my first two cases, even though I was told they were escalated.

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I was told the same thing about my cloud backup must be full. I too have not validated this, but I do not want my data in the cloud space. This approach is unacceptable.

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Not acceptable for me either.

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I have been a sworn Norton user for decades. Restore the ability to do a local backup or I am gone!
It used to be about customer service. New features were about improving the product and buying the latest addition to get those new features. Now it is subscription based and new feature keep adding to the subscription cost. These are not improvements when they have become add-ons!
Change back to local backup ability or I (and I am sure a lot of other power users) are GONE!

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I have been an advocate for Norton products for 30+ years. The removal of Local Backup functionality is a complete disrespect to the user base community. It is bad enough having to pay extra for minor improvements, but this is ludicrous. Whoever approved this software change should be dismissed immediately.

In the mean time I will be I will be uninstalling the software because not being able to update or recover 7 Tb data is NOT realistic. I will replace Norton with another vendor who cares about their customers.

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Before you uninstall, see my post from above. You can revert back to maintain the functionality.

You can then follow SoulAsylum’s link from above to shut down liveupdate and update virus definitions manually. If you don’t want to do that, keep the downloaded version so you can revert back any time they “upgrade” you.

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Well another waste of time.

I downloaded the version from your link.

I installed it. I rebooted the PC. I got an error message saying that SONAR is not available, then an error that the Trial License has expired, (I have 272 days of license available). Then it gave an error connecting to the Norton Server and failed.

I looked for the SoulAsylum link you mentioned. That is another waste of time. The font is so small on the screen shot that it is totally unreadable to understand any instructions.

Why can’t we have a link to download the previous version that contains the ability to perform Local Backups.

Gen Digital also owns
Avast
Avira
AVG

Do any of those still have local backup or all of them the same wolf in sheep costume?

When you reinstall, you will have to login to Norton and activate the license. To do this, you need to remove the current license on that PC and then you can activate the same license on the reinstalled software. You can login from the app itself, or you can login into norton.com, go to My Devices, remove the device, then re-add it. The link I gave is Norton 360. If you have a different version, such as AntiVirus Plus, you may need to search for a link for that.

Hasleo Backup Suite Free
https://www.easyuefi.com/backup-software/backup-suite-free.html

Haselo Backup Suite discussion
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/hasleo-backup-suite.449122/

Glad I NEVER turned on Backup in Norton 360. Tried it a few years back and it was as bad as PC Mag said (even though they like(ed) the overall program.

If you never turned it on, you just need to immediately go into settings and turn off Ransomware Protection & the Directories that Ransomware protection defaults to (and the files it backs up by default) UNTIL you get it like you want. Then turn Ransomeware Protection back on. Even with that done, I have no intention of turning on Backup until I’ve read these Backup / Cloud issues have been resolved.

I agree on the stupidity of dropping local backup. How does one revert to a previous version?

I just wanted to emphasise that the issue here is not just the removal of the local backup options. The new backup system just doesn’t work. My existing cloud backup set hasn’t backed up since the update and there is no way to get it to update. I tried creating a new backup set and found that the backup wasn’t saving all the files I’d specified. I tried 3 times and each time it failed to save all the files I had included. When I tried to delete this useless backup set that didn’t work either. The new backup system is a total mess and I can’t understand how it got through basic quality control and testing. What really worries me is that the rest of the update might have been carried out with equal incompetence. Now I don’t know if I can trust key elements of the Norton suite, like the anti-virus and the firewall. I’m considering reverting to Windows defender while I look for an alternative security suite. I suspect at Bifdefender they are popping the champagne to see their key competitor make such a monumental mess.

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Everyone. I went back to the links I previously posted and found that Norton has now flagged the site as “dangerous” and it is difficult to download now. However, I finally found an old thread that has this link to version 22.23.10.10. It is an offline installer. I would uninstall 24 first and then reinstall with this. Save this file in case 24 comes back.

http://www.norton.com/cspn360