Customer Reviews

Microsoft Windows Live OneCare 1.0 For Windows XP

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(30)

 

 

Let me begin by saying that I despise Microsoft as much as those who have probably never used this program but are giving it a one-star anyway. Yet, thanks to my college's good ol' "PC" requirement, I own a Dell laptop and finding the perfect security suite has been a problem for me...until now.

My Dell came installed with McAfee Internet Security Suite with free definition updates and software upgrades for 3 years. However, I was very very upset with McAfee, as it is a memory hog and loves to annoy the heck out of me with pop-ups telling me to install the anti-spam program, regardless that I use gmail. So I ditched it for a free copy of Norton, provided by my school. Norton's anti-virus is a very superior program, I've had no problems with it. But it's firewall became somewhat of an annoyance, as it would repeatedly pop-up for a program multiple times within a minute. I decided to look for something better.

Enter Windows Live OneCare. I heard about the beta and since it was free at the time, I decided to give it a shot. Downloading was seamless, but installation wasn't. When I went to install, the program required me to uninstall Norton manually, and then rerun the installation program. It is indeed dangerous to run two antivirus/firewall programs at the same time, but one would think Microsoft's installation program could have uninstalled those programs manually. Either that or have given a heads up warning. Also, the program made me go to Microsoft's website and manually install Windows Defender before it could continue. Do note that at this step, you are required to submit to a validation process that confirms that your copy of XP isn't pirated, so any hackers out there beware. So I had to go back and do as it requested, and then gave installation a second go-around. No problems there, it ran smoothly this time.

After installing, I activated my "beta" subscription with a valid Microsoft Live ID (If you have a Passport, Hotmail or MSN id, then this is the same thing). The first thing that caught my eye was the icon in the taskbar. It is like an egg with a "1" inside it. The egg can display one of 3 colors at any given time (Green, Yellow, or Red). If it's green, then things are great. Yellow means that either you need to do a scan or update the definition files. Red means danger, although I never encountered it during my trial. The screen consists of a list of tasks that are recommend for you to perform (Perform Scan, update, etc.) Below are details of when you performed your last virus scan, tuned-up your computer, and backed-up your data using OneCare.

Besides the standard antivirus and firewall, OneCare boasts some amazing features, one of which is where you can cleanup unnecessary files and defragment your hard drive with a few clicks. This is very important for the well-being of your computer, and as a person who forgets to do such things I found the scheduler feature to be nifty indeed. OneCare completed a tune-up of my PC within 3 hours, although do note that I have a 200GB hard drive with LOTS of files. The antivirus scan revealed no trouble-spots within my computer, although that could be since I ran a Norton scan that very morning before uninstalling it. The firewall in OneCare is a two-way firewall, a much significant upgrade of the standard XP firewall. Upon opening web browsers and other applications, the firewall did bring up small pop-ups in the corner saying that the particular program wanted to access the internet and if it was ok. It gives buttons for yes or no. I believe this is similar to ZoneAlarm, which I used many years ago and I found it neither obtrusive or annoying. I never used the backup feature, as I prefer to do backups in native-file format (meaning I don't want all the backed-up files jammed into one particular file that can only be opened by the back-up program).

I think the biggest positive about this program is that it works almost seamlessly within Windows XP. There was definitely NO noticeable slow down in my system, especially at boot-up, compared to Norton or McAfee. The program starts up simply with the icon in the taskbar. Only if you double-click on the icon will a splash screen appear followed by the actual program window. The tasks performed all took as long as I expected them to.

PROS:
-Clean and simple interface.
-Tune-up and back-up features
-Excellent integration into Windows XP
-Tasks performed in timely manner
-Not a memory hog
-Firewall pop-ups not annoying, and usually do not repeat for common programs.
-3 licenses included (unlike the other programs)

CONS:
-Should have given prior warning about having to uninstall other security suites, as well as having to install Windows Defender.
-While OneCare in particular does not require "Genuine" Windows XP, Windows Defender does and you have to go through Microsoft's Genuine Validation process.
-$49.95 for one-year subscription is still a rip-off in my mind. (but then again, for 3 licenses still cheaper than other programs)

Overall, it works as advertised. Just because the program has the Microsoft logo slapped on it shouldn't mean that it will not function properly or mislead us, I hope. However, if you are still hesitant, I believe Norton and McAfee will be bringing out some of the same tune-up features within their own offerings by the end of the year, so be on the lookout for those. I would recommend this program. I am taking away one star because of the installation issue.

I've been using Windows Live OneCare since late 2005 (I was one of the beta testers) and I have nothing but good things to say about WLOC.

It does not slow down my system (like most of Symantec's products), and does not require ANY user-intervention unless there is an issue which needs to be resolved.

WLOC's "Status Light" is one of the most ingenious ideas in a long time, Green means that your computer is protected, and you are good to go, yellow means there is an issue which needs your attention, and red means you need to take action on a specific issue.

WLOC's dashboard gives you all the information you need in one screen - letting you know if all the services are active, informing you of any major virus outbreaks, the last time your computer was "Tuned-Up", virus definitions were updated, etc.

Alot of people might be concerned about using a Security Product from Microsoft after all their security issues with Windows, Office and Internet Explorer, but you have to realize that Windows Live OneCare is built on technology that Microsoft bought from three or four security companies over the past few years, so it contains technology that Microsoft did not have when Windows/Office/IE were originally developed.

Installation is not as simple as you think. First, you need to have an active HIGH SPEED internet connection. Second, you need to have a Hotmail account. Just with these two requirements, you will see that this product is impossible to install in an office with lots of workstations.

After reading the reviews here, I thought it would be easy to install the software. I'd think just put the CD in and forget it. However, It turned out that it took hours to install because the CD opened Internet Exploder and everything needed to be downloaded from the One Care website. This reminded me something called the Steam from Half Life 2 that took me 6 hours to install the game in my house with a DSL.

It took my computer in my office (with a high speed T1) half an hour to install the first part of the package. Yes, the first part. It turned out that the Anti Spyware were not part of the package. You needed to connect to the Windows Defender website to download the beta as a seperated installation.

After everything was installed, It was a smooth sailing. There was very little ignoring popup. Even 1care popped up some windows, it could just close the windows and everything would be running in the background. For example, if you started Performance Tune Up, it would display a window showing you the progress. You could just close that window and 1care would continue running Tune Up in the background. You could continue to work with your computer while it was running Tune Up in the background. If you tried this with Norton or eTrust or PC-cillin, you knew that they would take over your computer with a big window popped right in your face that they would not let you minimize or close. If you closed that window, they would stop scanning.

To be fair, I have no way to tell how good or bad the antivirus or the windows defender work against any virus/spyware. But... at least the computer is running faster after I removed Norton.

But for 10 bucks I got from CompUSA, One Care is a bargain that comes with Antivirus, Windows Defender, better firewall, auto tune up, and backup utility for a total of 3 computers.

Whatever you might think of Microsoft it would seem that they would best know how to integrate security software in their own OS. I consider myself an advanced user, but was looking for unobtrusive securityware. OneCare is it.

That said, I was a long time user of Norton Products, however, over time Norton got bulky and used too many resources, and when they finally initiated an activation scheme, I decided it was time to try something else. I used the Trend Micro Security Suite for a year, it did a good job, but it updated every day, which I liked, but I had to tell it to update, which was rather annoying. When My subscription to Trend Micro ended. I decided to try out OneCare.

So far, I've been very pleased. The software loaded easily,has a very simple interface, and updates on its own without intervention on my part. Nothing could be simpler. The firewall has recognized the software on my system and has taken appropriate action to notify me when it has allowed access. The virus scan has run quickly and accurately, and the backup to my external USB drive has worked very well. More to the point for $19.95 on Amazon for up to 3 computers, it's a good value.

Having got tired of Norton security products hogging ever more of my system's resources I'd been looking to switch security products to something a bit more lean and efficient for a while. When I heard that Microsoft were providing their new OneCare package as a free Beta I thought I'd give it a try. I was not disappointed. This package has everything I need to keep my system running smoothly including:

*Anti-virus (automatically updates with the latest virus definitions and even alerts you when it has updated to protect against any major viruses making the news i.e. Sober)

*Anti-Spyware (automatically updates and includes the excellent Software Explorer which let's you see what programs/services are starting up in the background and lets you switch off what you don't require to free up system resources)

*Integrates with Windows Update for notifcation of system updates.

*Firewall (works great - although could allow for a little more user control)

*Automated Backup (allows you to backup to external hard drives and CD/DVD)

*System Tune-up (includes defragmentation and file clean-up)

With such a range of tools I was expecting a significant hit on the speed at which my system ran but I couldn't even notice it running other than the colored 'status' icon in the task bar (red: urgent attention required i.e. critical windows update needed, yellow: minor attention required i.e. scan hasn't been completed in a while, green: everything fine!). This easy to understand status icon has allowed me to install OneCare on my mother's machine and she knows that as long as it's green everything is ok - simple but very effective.

In the past Microsoft hasn't always had the best reputation for security but the performance, speed, features and price (great value and even allows for installation on up to three machines) all mean that, for me, OneCare is the best product on the market for complete system protection at the moment. Top notch!

OneCare is not a tweaker's friend. It has no knobs and gizmos for power users to tinker with. However, it does one thing right. It works. When you use it, you truly do have one care. Do what it tells you to make it green. If you can do that, your computer is safe from viruses, hackers, malware, spyware, known security vulnerabilities, low disk space, slow disk access, and data that is not backed up.
OneCare takes a layered approach to keep you and your data safe. It has an inbound firewall to keep bad stuff out of your computer. If bad stuff gets through the firewall, it has antivirus to stop it from affecting your system and an outbound firewall to keep it from spreading. If that doesn't stop the bad stuff, it makes sure you have a backup of your data on a separate drive or on CDs.
In the past, I haven't bought security products. There are plenty of free ones on the market that do a satisfactory job. However, ever since I tried OneCare as a beta tester, I fell in love with it. It is simple to use.
Reduce your worries about being online down to OneCare and try it today.

I have been using this product without a hiccough for almost six months, including the beta, and there is no reason to shop for another product.

This security tool handles all your Windows machine needs, including:
--Virus protection
--Firewall
--Spyware (in conjunction with Windows Defender, downloaded automatically for free during the installation of OneCare)
--Machine performance tuning (disk defragmentation, missing updates)
--Backups (provided, of course, you have something to backup to...)
--Automatic Windows updates

As compared to other products, the memory and CPU footprint is smaller, freeing up resources to do other things.

Unlike certain other products, it does not act like a giant billboard attempting to get you to buy more software from the maker.

A single purchase at what appears to be an on-going $19.99 sale price provides protection for up to three machines for less than any of the major vendors charge for just anti-virus software for one machine.

I see no good reason not to purchase this product, but there are a few bad reasons:
--If you are not using real Windows software, you will not be able to use this product, so if you bought a machine 5 years ago and had the neighbor's 13 year old kid install the Windows XP he downloaded from the Internet, don't bother. If you are not sure, try visiting the Microsoft site and follow the links to validate your software.
--As someone pointed out in another review, you will need to register at MSN. This is no big deal, and does nothing other than give an email address to Microsoft (just like McAfee, Norton, and everyone else does for registration of their software). This account is used to track how many machines you are using the software on, and given the rampant software theft problems in the world, makes perfect sense. If you are paranoid that the most successful software company in the world plans to violate anti-spam legislation, just make up an email address.

In summary, forget the competition, forget the "I hate Microsoft" zealots, and get some inexpensive, quality security software for your PC.

Finally, a security product geared towards the standard home user. It is not as user friendly as it should be for the home user, but pretty darn close. I am an independent developer and have been using the Beta and now the Live version on 4 different machines. So I have been able to see how well this performs. I have purposefully inflicted myself with various viruses and worms and it blocked them all with the exception of one. It was a newer one so that was exepcted. Norton did not block it either.

The first thing you have to compliment Microsoft on is the pricing model. The fact that this price covers up to 3 PC's in your household is perfect. All you need is a Microsoft Passport which millions of people already have. If not, it is easy to setup and you can use any email address to set one up unlike what another viewer said.

The other next to perfect feature is the functionality that forces you, the user, to update your PC with the latest and greatest Microsoft security updates. If you do not do it, Window OneCare will do it for you. This can be a huge annoyance having your PC reboot without you wanting it to, but if you really think about it, what better way can there be to ensure you are always up to date. This goes hand in hand with the maintenance tools that run periodically to keep your PC running as well as it can.

As my subject says, this is perfect for the home user. The standard John and Jane Doe who know they should have something but have no clue what they need nor how to get it. They do not need hundreds of windows to open ports and block this and open that. They usually do not want to go on the Internet and download freeware/crapware for their virus solution.

Knowing Microsoft, this product will get better over time. And at this price for 3 PC's, you really cannot go wrong to give it a shot. It can be a pain in the behind uninstalling other software first (Norton can be a big pain to remove), but in the long run, it is worth it.

So far I have had a pretty easy time with OneCare. After reading other reviews, I learned that you should uninstall any other Security you have on your system. I was more than happy to get rid of McAfee. After this, the installation was very easy. It directed you to download Defender, so I am not sure what the problem was with one of the other reviewers. I didn't have to do any extra work to have that on the computer, just push a button when prompted. I also personally haven't had any rebooting problems with my PC. One problem/issue I have had has been touched upon in other reviews. The firewall system seems to be a little flawed. It will tell you that a program is "allowed," such as Windows Media Connect, but then it won't actually allow it. I had to go in and manually allow different aspects of media connect, it wasn't good enough to say that the whole program was allowed. I found this particularly strange since it is a microsoft program made for the Xbox 360, which is a microsoft system. Strange. So now I know to keep my eye out for this particular situation in the future. Anyway, other than that, I have had a pretty easy time with OneCare. I would recommend it to anyone.

I have had Norton for years since my company gave all of its employees free copies. Most of my collegues agreed that Norton left a lot to be desired - too much spyware and adware would get through. I have been participating in the beta for Microsoft's product for over 4 months and have been impressed. The initial setup is easy and I haven't had to fiddel with it since. I think that since it is designed to operate seamlessly with Windows and Explorer, it has a easier time seeking and destroying problematic programs/viruses. Good stuff. I imagine that the commercial version is even better than the beta.