A while back we told you about Symantec accidentally [crippling upwards of 50,000 Chinese Windows machines][1] when the anti-virus software deleted two critical system files in the Simplified Chinese edition of Windows XP which left those systems inoperable. In an [attempt to return to its users good graces][3] Symantec is offering affected users a free copy of Norton Save & Restore 2.0 backup software (enterprise users can get Symantec Ghost Solution Suite) along with a 12 month extension to the Norton Anti-Virus subscription services. Symantec calls the offer a "gesture of goodwill," however given that Norton is in fact the source of the original problem, many users may think twice about installing it again. Or as the Register so [drolly puts it][2]: "cockroach in your salad, sir? Have some free salad." Symantec had previously hinted that was considering a compensation package of some kind for affected users, but an extension of the same service that caused the problem is dubious at best; especially given that some Chinese enterprise companies are rumored to be demanding up to $130,000 for lost productivity. [1]: http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/05/symantec_hoses_.html "Symantec Hoses Chinese Windows Users" [2]: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/25/symantec_compensation/ "Symantec showers free software on bug-afflicted Chinese" [3]: http://www.symantec.com/zh/cn/home_homeoffice/theme.jsp?themeid=goodwill