GoBack
| Company type | Software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer software |
| Predecessor | Wild File, Inc. |
| Founded | November 1998 |
| Founder | Wild File, Inc. |
| Fate | Discontinued; replaced by Norton Ghost 14 |
| Successor | Norton Ghost 14 |
| Headquarters | Plymouth , United States |
| Products | Disk utility software |
| Owner | Symantec (final owner) |
Norton GoBack—previously known as WildFile GoBack, Adaptec GoBack, and Roxio GoBack—is a Windows-based disk utility designed to track up to 8 GB of changes on a disk, establishing "safe points" during periods when the filesystem is idle. This functionality permits users to revert the entire disk or specific files to any moment within the recorded history, which can range from several hours to days depending on system usage.
Operation
GoBack operates by replacing the master boot record and merging the partition table into a single partition. This architecture ensures that recovery is possible even if the operating system fails to start, while safeguarding the filesystem to preserve accurate rollback information. The utility is compatible with hardware RAID configurations.
Incompatible products
Because GoBack alters the partition table structure, it may disrupt dual booting arrangements involving multiple operating systems on the same drive. Users maintaining dual-boot environments must manually back up and restore the partition table after activating GoBack. Additionally, it needs to be turned off before running certain low-level disk utilities—such as formatting tools—that do not recognize its presence, as these can lead to data corruption. GoBack also conflicts with applications like Acronis True Image for Windows, Drive Vaccine PC Restore, and RollBack Rx, all of which require direct access to the master boot record.
Usage precaution
- There have been reports from users experiencing data loss following Norton GoBack installation; CNET’s editorial review of version 4.0 awarded it 3.5 stars, whereas user ratings averaged only 1.5 stars.
- Version 4.0 lacks support for hard drive partitions sized at 1 TB or more.
- According to Symantec, Norton GoBack 4.0 is not compatible with Windows Vista.
Product history
- Developed by Wild File, Inc., located in Plymouth, Minnesota, GoBack was introduced at COMDEX in November 1998 and released in December of the same year. The underlying technology received patent protection in January 2000.
- In March 2000, Adaptec, Inc. acquired Wild File for approximately $29 million.
- By April 2001, Adaptec spun off Roxio, Inc., which assumed ownership of GoBack.
- In May 2001, Roxio launched GoBack 3 Deluxe, incorporating support for the increasingly prevalent NTFS filesystem alongside the rise of Windows XP.
- August 2001 saw Symantec announce Norton SystemWorks 2002, which bundled Roxio’s GoBack 3 Personal Edition.
- Roxio sold GoBack to Symantec in April 2003 for $13 million.
- Symantec released Norton GoBack 4.0 within Norton SystemWorks 2005 in September 2004.
- By November 2007, Symantec’s Vista-compatible Norton SystemWorks (version 11.0) no longer included GoBack; instead, its Premier Edition featured Norton Save & Restore 2.0.
- In March 2009, Symantec phased out Norton GoBack in favor of Norton Ghost 14, although some functionality present in GoBack was omitted.
Awards
- May 2000: PC Magazine Editors' Choice awarded to Adaptec GoBack 2.1.
- June 2003: GoBack 3 Deluxe honored with PC Magazine Editors' Choice.
- June 2004: Norton GoBack version 3.0 received the PC Magazine Editors' Choice distinction.
- August 2005: Norton GoBack 4.0 recognized as a PC Magazine Editors' Choice.
Competing products
- Windows SteadyState (no longer available)