Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users)

Manufacturer: Microsoft Software
Model: C7S-00135
Platform: Windows Vista
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
List Price: $49.95
Our Price: $13.50

Editorial Review for Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users)

OneCare helps keep your PC safe and secure while making your life easier. From virus scanning, file backups, to automatic printing sharing of all the PCs in your household, OneCare helps manage it all for you. And it's delivered to you in a smooth, hassle-free package.
In one convenient package, Windows Live OneCare helps protect your computer, uses its optimization features to keep your PC running at its speediest, and even regularly backs up your important files: Protection Plus uses antivirus and antispyware scanners, a managed two-way firewall, and integrated anti-phishing technology to protect your computer from viruses, worms, Trojan horses, hackers, phishing, and other threats. It runs continuously, but you can scan individual files and folders for viruses on demand simply by right-clicking them. You can even scan attachments you receive via Windows Live Messenger or MSN Messenger.
Performance Plus regularly defragments your hard disk, removes any unnecessary files that may clog your computer, and helps ensure important security updates from Microsoft are installed efficiently and on time.
Backup and Restore regularly copies your important files and settings to CD, DVD, external hard disk, network drive, or other data-storage device. Instant Help provides online help anytime you need it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Windows Live OneCare is the all-in-one PC security and performance service designed specifically for Windows XP and Windows Vista-based operating systems. It helps keep your PC's internal workings in order and protect it from outside security threats.

Protection for your files and information
Automatically helps protect personal and financial documents, music, photos, whatever you're saving--from the latest viruses, worms, hackers, spyware, and online identity scams.

Performance tune-ups
Automates "janitorial tasks," including disk cleaning and defragmentation, to help improve PC performance.
The all-in-one PC security and performance service designed specifically for Windows XP and Windows Vista-based operating systems.

Data back-up and restore
Makes it easy to back up your files to a CD, DVD, external hard drive, locally networked computers, or most USB-connected storage devices.

Your PC's Best Friend
OneCare helps protect your PC from outside security threats while keeping things on the inside running smoothly. OneCare includes:

Antivirus and Antispyware
Anti-Phishing
Managed Firewall
Data Backup and Restore
Performance Tune-ups

All-in-One

All-in-one security service

Virus and spyware protection helps shield your PC from contamination. Real-time scans identify and clean infected files and help protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other potentially unwanted software.
Phishing filter in Internet Explorer 7 is activated to help detect and block known sites for online ID scams and theft.
Firewall helps keep hackers out and private information in.

Boosts PC performance

Tune-ups keep your PC running smoothly.
Automatic disk cleanup, defragging, file backup and recovery on your schedule.
Scheduled backups to CD, DVD, external hard drive, locally networked computers, or most USB-connected storage devices.
Restores specific or all backed-up files.

One subscription

Helps protect and maintain one, two, or three computers for one price for one year.

Automatic

Automatic protection

Runs continuously behind the scenes while you're using your PC.
Helps counteract new virus threats and block new harmful applications.

Automated PC tune-ups and maintenance

Helps keep your PC running quickly and efficiently.

Automatic updates

New feature and version upgrades included for as long as you keep your service active.
Works with Microsoft Update to help ensure that your computer is up-to-date with the latest security and critical updates from Microsoft.

Simple

Task Bar Icon

Always shows your PC's health status
Green means your PC status is Good.
Yellow means your PC status is Fair.
Red means your PC is At Risk.
One-click resolutions make it easy to take the necessary action to get and stay green.

Helpful

The OneCare Advantage:

Unlimited, free Windows Live OneCare phone, email, and chat support.
Automatic version and feature upgrades for as long as you keep your subscription active.
Continuous technology improvement to combat emerging threats.
Each OneCare subscription helps protect and maintain up to three Windows XP or Windows Vista-based PCs for one year.

Customer Reviews for Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users)

Don't waste your time installing on an older computer
Rating: 1/ 5
I thought this would be worth a try since it came included with Qwest DSL service, and reviews here seemed generally positive. It did not work well on my 7-year old system, though. After a couple weeks struggling with it, I finally was able to uninstall it.

First of all, this requires a lot of RAM. My system was doing OK, but getting a bit low on RAM at 384 MB until I installed this. With Windows Live OneCare installed it wanted around 500 MB just to boot up--even while not running anything. So it was using Virtual Memory and paging like crazy, with the CPU pegged at 100%, even after I let it sit for hours, thinking it just needed to run an initial scan. Well, RAM is cheap and it was time, so I went ahead and upgraded to 1 GB (as much as my old motherboard can handle.) That was a lot better. Then the other annoyances began.

I run normally under a limited account, and WLOC was constantly bugging me to allow various processes to access the Internet, etc. To do so I'd have to log out and log in under an adminstrative account. The worst thing was just plugging in a USB flash drive would require an administrative installation--EVERY TIME. That got old in a hurry.

The last straw was it started interfering with proper shutdown of the system. Instead of shutting down, it would just hang. Then after all my other computers had automatically installed this week's critical MS Update, and this one still hadn't, I tried manually installing it by going to [...]. It just hung IE, and wouldn't even open the page. So I decided to uninstall it. Guess what? Control Panel Add/Remove Programs wouldn't come up. Windows Restore wouldn't work because it wouldn't shut down properly. Luckily I found OneCareCleanup.exe via Qwest's help center, and that did the trick. Now all seems well, and I've reinstalled the security software I previously was using.

Bottom line, I wasted a lot of time on this. Microsoft ought to do better. This is bloatware at its worst, as far as I can tell. Maybe it's better on a new machine, but I definitely do not recommend it on an older system.

Totally Worthless Software -Cust No Support comes Standard
Rating: 1/ 5
I actually bought this product twice and installed it on my desktop, my laptop and my mothers laptop computer. It was seemingly easy to use and I liked the ease of making regular backups to my USB drive. The only problem was the registration: It required an e-mail account with .hotmail or .live. I did not want either of those e-mail addresses, but I created one so that I could register the software. For months and months (over a year), I had no problem scanning and backing up; but when my laptop went south I could not find the name of the e-mail account or the password I had associated with it. I did all the things it said to do on their web-site to resolve the problem, and nothing would let me log in to get help. I could not access the account from any of the three computers it was installed on. I even tried to set up another e-mail account to re-register, but it would not let me re-register with the same product key. There is no e-mail support for people with registratration problems, and I could not find any way to contact a live person via chat or phone to get help. I came to the conclusion that they purposely did not list the needed contact information. I've used several other virus protection software programs in the past, all of which had functional support with multiple contact options. Microsoft took my money, and even sent me e-mails to ask why I was un-installing the program. To this date they have never responded to my requests for help. I left my phone number, and my e-mail address. I promised them free advertising, and here it is: DON'T EVER BUY THIS HORRIBLE SOFTWARE. If you do, be sure to tatoo the e-mail address and password you use somewhere on your body where you can see it. I think this product would be more accurately described as WINDOWS NO CARE.

wrong irem no return
Rating: 2/ 5
Ordered Windows live Onecare 2.0. Received a"service desk edition" Inter net says this should NOT be the hands of a home user. After two weeks of hassle they say they will NOT pay to have it returned and I told them I was cancelling the charge and they can figure how to get it back. Very arrogant people on the phone. Never again.

Not really what I hoped for
Rating: 2/ 5
I purchased this product after a friend suggested it but it does not have a spam filter consequently I reloaded Norton. If you receive as much span as I, you will not want this product.

Nicest Security software I've ever used
Rating: 5/ 5
MS OneCare has to be the nicest, and most UNobtrusive antivirus/antispyware software I've ever used and had on my computers. Unlike most all other similar software, it does not slow down, or interrupt things such as email sending/receiving, and internet surfing. You can be confident that it's doing it's job without being annoyed by constant pop-ups and reminders and questions. It is quite simply (in my opinion) the ideal security software for the Windows operating systems. Another plus is that you can install it on up to 3 computers without having to pay a dime extra. A year or so ago, I had Norton AV on my computers. When I purchased it, they said that it could be installed on up to two computers (for the price I paid). That was true - at first, BUT when the year subscription ran out and it was time to renew, then they required that both computers that I had the original copy on, renew seperately- thus doubling my renewal fees. Additionally, with Norton, I constantly received pop-ups, reminders, and questions; someone you very rarely ever see in OneCare - unless it finds something wrong. I strongly recommend that you give it a try. It would be difficult for me to understand how anyone could NOT like it!

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