| Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users) | 
 enlarge | From: Microsoft Software
Category: Software
List Price: $49.95
Buy New: $11.99
You Save: $37.96 (76%)
New (76) Used (9) from $11.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  190 reviews
Sales Rank: 16
Format: Dvd-rom
Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows Xp
Media: CD-ROM
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.2 x 1.5
nv:Software Type: Utilities
MPN: C7S-00135
Model: C7S-00135
UPC: 882224494274
EAN: 0882224495134
ASIN: B000V6YPAY
Release Date: November 15, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 It's main job: protect itself, not your computer February 27, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
The "generous" 3 months trial turns into a nightmare once you have paid for the product. In 2006 I bought it, installed and used in three computers. In November 2007 after trying to upgrade it to the new version, I wrongly opted to make a brand new installation after I could not enter the new number to upgrade the old one. Infortunately the computer where I installed the new version crashed and when I tried to re-install it, the installation program did not allow it, warning that the ID has already been used. Then, I got lots of rounds of non sense instructions.
Finally I contacted someone in the technical support but all I got was more cryptic instructions that don't make sense either. Bottom line: three months later, I am still figuring it out.
The three person who I recommended the product while in the trial period have reported similar convoluted setup, once something goes wrong.
My theory: I have used several microsoft products for a long time. This is the most convoluted protection scheme from microsoft that I know. Considering that this is a cheap product that you can buy on sale for about 20 bucks or so, (at least while they eat up the competition), the only explanation is that they are testing this copy protection scheme to use it in their main products. No even Vista is so protected. I feel kind of guinea pig.
Security Suite with Pricey Subscription February 27, 2008
9 out of 27 found this review helpful
This product was a big disappointment.
It is a suite of security applications for up to three windows PCs.
My biggest issue - and most importantly, is it requires a subscription of 50 dollars a year from Microsoft.
The only reason I'm giving this any stars is because: 1) you can't give it zero stars, and 2) it does gather multiple applications in a one-place control panel.
With the exception of above, the only "plus" for OneCare is that it does support multiple PCs for the same 50 dollars a year. Still, though, 50 bucks is 50 bucks, and who knows what the price will be like in the future.
Folks, please be aware - all these applications are available elsewhere, in one form or another, most for free. See MajorGeeks and GriSoft for instance.
I cannot recommend this product. At all.
Also, it is packaged in what has to be the most frustrating box to open ever encountered.
 Sudhakar February 27, 2008
So far I liked this product. I tried other software like McAfee and noticed system had slowed down. But this one is doing fine.
 The Bikini Model of Antivirus ... February 27, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
It looks good, but that's about it ...
While I'm not a noob when it comes to software and computers, I'm not Bill Gates either, so please take everything I say in this review as one user's opinion and not gospel. I give this disclaimer because everybody's computers will react different, even two machines that are of identical builds.
First ...
I tested this out on my Dell Inspiron Laptop 1721. I recently purchased this computer and had been solely using Lavasoft's Adaware on it to keep it clean, which was doing a very good job in sync with windows Firewall. Don't worry ... I hear you gasping out there ... yeah, I'm using Vista. The firewall in Vista is a bit more improved and more sensitive than the one in XP. Still with me?
1. The installation of the software was smooth. I encountered no problems with any of the typically problematic Dell stuff that's installed before you buy the machine which usually gets in the way and brings out the blue screens. It did uninstall Norton (thankfully), which I haven't used on this machine (and never will) and also uninstalled the Lavasoft Adaware. These two programs cause conflicts with OneCare ... so I let the machine uninstall them both. Adaware is free, so -- no loss there.
2. After it was done, which didn't take long, surprisingly, I had to create a OneCare account with our nice friends at Microsoft. Then I had to make another account with Microsoft that basically did the same thing. This kind of thing is typical with Microsoft as they love to verify the bejesus out of you, your machine and your entire life. It's not always mandatory with other companies until you pay for a subscription or want premium services.
3. The interface looked clean, neat and easy to use, (sounds like a girl I once dated, hmm ...) I had no problems running the virus / spyware palette that they recommended either. But here is the snag: I had manually placed 10 files on the C drive directly from the quarantine folder from my Lavasoft Adaware that I had on another computer. Guess what? OneCare didn't find a single one. Most of them were just simple tracking cookies that came up during a quick scan. But the 1 hour long "quick scan" from OneCare yielded no results. Sigh ...
Here's the problem with this software in a nutshell ...
If you have a new machine and you're running Vista, OneCare will probably work for you as long as you DON'T do the following:
a) Click on advertisements on the internet
b) Get phished. Google it if you're unaware.
c) Look at scantily clad women ... ahem. I think you know what I mean here.
d) Open unnecessary .exe attachments from unknown people.
If you're not that kind of person, then you should be fine. But if you aren't, and you're on an older machine, or you already have a machine that behaves strangely and turns off all by itself, then you might be better served with saving your money and plonking down $50 and getting something more reliable or using several of the other free programs simultaneously. Microsoft rarely takes the latter kind of person very serious as a customer, as the problems are often too interwoven and too complex. That's why they love to have companies, like Dell and HP use those nifty "fix" disks - that just resets everything. It's simpler.
Also, you need to know that this program should've been included free of charge within Vista, but that's just my five cents.
It doesn't take long to see the benefits and the drawbacks from these types of programs. Benchmarking and personal testing goes a long way rather than just assuming that this stuff is going to do its job.
If you're curious and you really want to learn ... then spend some time reading up on the two following commands listed below and your life will be simplified a thousand fold when it comes to your computer:
1. msconfig
2. services.msc
Yes, I did list them in matter of importance. Know them well. But don't get cocky or it may spell your doom, especially with number two.
Be proactive and take care of your computer. Unfortunately, OneCare, barring a serious overhaul of their virus / spyware engine, is probably not the best solution for this.
Post-script: and as for the fancy plastic case that it comes in ... I could've easily done without it in lieu of the old paper sleeve which seemed to me, just fine; and good luck getting it open.
 Very Satisfied February 26, 2008
This is the second year that I have used Windows Live OneCare. I find no fault with the product. On the occasion I needed help with a flash drive that I was using for backup tech support was excellent.
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