First I downloaded the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor just so I’d be aware of anything that might be important before I started. No real major issues to report. A warning about RAM size. RAM available was listed at just under 2GB, Microsoft recommends 1GB as a minimum, but more if available. The laptop is holding as much as it can.

I’m proceeding with the install and am told I’ve got to uninstall Windows Live OneCare. It’s interesting that nothing was reported about that having issues with the upgrade advisor scan. Now I’ve restarted and I’m trying again.

I’m really afraid that I’m going to absolutely love Windows 7 on my wife’s computer and then want to install it on my own business laptop. That will prove to be too much of a risk in case of unknown issues. I’d be open to looking at dual-booting to give it a try, but the stupid hard drive on my laptop is excruciatingly tiny.

I’ll follow-up with a post tomorrow on my experience with the rest of the upgrade process and what I think about Windows 7. Here’s crossing your fingers.

Image: Windows 7 Installation Screen

Post from: EveryJoe

Replacing Vista with Windows 7

Microsoft has now released their Microsoft Security Essentails application that will be completely replacing Windows Live OneCare as their security application of choice.

The big change between the two application is that Microsoft Security Essentials will be offered as a free download. Compared to the price of OneCare. There are a few different functions that will not be included in the new application, but the core components of what you’re looking for in this kind of application will be there.

What anti-virus application do you use? What system do you have running on a daily basis? What applications do you use for some extra-curricular system scrubbing when it’s called for because of a variety of reasons?

Post from: EveryJoe

Microsoft Security Essentials in Beta

If you’ve been reading my blog for very long you’ll probably know that I’m quite the fan of Windows Live OneCare. It’s done everything I’ve needed and asked it today and has protected me with no problems whatsoever.

I’ve installed the application on every machine I have immediate control over as well as recommending it to numerous friends, relatives and clients. Everyone that I’ve recommended it to has had no problems that I’m aware of either. Since I serve as their computer support and IT department, I’m sure I would have heard about it if they did have problems.

I guess myself and everyone else in that above list then is in the minority.

As I was catching up on some old issues of PC World I noticed a story about Microsoft discontinuing development and sales of their Windows Live OneCare product in June of 2009.

It will be replaced by a stripped down and now free version of the tool code-named "Morro". Morro will have all the same antivirus and malware protection that’s found in Windows Live OneCare, but won’t have the system maintenance and backup functionality that I’ve enjoyed since I began using the product as a beta tester.

With the cancelling of Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft’s "Equipt" package of software, which included OneCare, Office Home and Student, Office Live Workspaces, Live Mail, Messenger and Live Photo, has also bit the dust.

Other Coverage on PC World

• Microsoft Kills Equipt Subscription Offering
• Will Microsoft Corner the Desktop Security Market?
• Microsoft Kills OneCare to Offer Freebie; So Long, Norton
• Microsoft Drops OneCare Antivirus Product

Post from: EveryJoe

Microsoft Killing Windows Live OneCare

I recently renewed my subscription to Windows Live OneCare for another year. I continue to be pleased with the functionality and service I get from this suite of products and use it faithfully to help maintain my computer.

The extended benefit which is no longer new to most anti-virus applications is that one subscription covers up to three machines with a full install.

I’ve yet to have any virus outbreaks on my machine or the numerous other machines I have installed Windows Live OneCare on from family machines to other client machines.

Who else is using Windows Live OneCare, what are your experiences? Have you had any problems?

Image: Banner from Windows Live OneCare product email

Post from: EveryJoe

Renewal of Windows Live OneCare

I just accepted an invitation to participate in a new BETA program. As the name would generally imply, it’s a sort of maintenance and error checking program that continuously runs in the background of Windows.

Here’s Microsoft’s own words about the program:

Windows Advisor is an easy-to-use self-help tool that notifies users about problems on their PCs and helps fix them. Windows Advisor scans users’ PCs continuously, notifies them about important issues, and, when possible, suggests easy fix solutions. The program also provides users with self-help solutions, such as including a 1-click checkup function that enables them to check their PCs whenever they like; tips and tutorials that teach users how to perform certain actions on their PCs; and a toolbox that concentrates the important tools that are found in the operating system into one easy-to-find location.

I’m going to be running this program on my main laptop so I hope I don’t run into issues. For me though, it’s the best way to really test this stuff. I could install the application on my home desktop, but I rarely use that anymore.

I wish this was integrated in with Windows Live OneCare. It seems to me that OneCare performs a similar action. It would be nice if ran together without being a separate application running at the same time. Maybe once it’s released from BETA it will be incorporated back into OneCare as a single application.

Post from: EveryJoe

New Windows Advisor BETA

I’ve been a very happy user of Windows Live OneCare. I was involved with the product during it’s beta testing and limited release and have been pleased with it as much or more so than I have with any other anti-virus program. The benefit for me though is that it’s anti-spyware, anti-virus, firewall and back-up all rolled into one. I like that, I guess other’s don’t.

I’ve read the reviews about it not catching some things the other programs did, but I can tell you I haven’t had any problems with viruses or spyware since I’ve installed it.

I know the key component of staying protected is keeping your definitions up to date. Currently OneCare is letting me know my definitions are “Out-of-date” as you can see above, the problem is that it can’t find any updates. What’s up Microsoft? I know there are updates available, why can’t OneCare see them?

Post from: EveryJoe

Windows Live OneCare Needs Updated

A recent article in PC Magazine shares the research that Microsoft’s OneCare product finished dead-last in side-by-side comparisons to other anti-virus software.

“We recently learned that AV Comparatives conducted tests on Windows Live OneCare and the service did not pass their testing criteria,” a Microsoft spokesman said. “We are looking closely at the methodology and results of the test to ensure that Windows Live OneCare performs better in future tests. We will also determine whether any learnings from these tests can be used to improve our services as part of our ongoing work to continually enhance Windows Live OneCare to ensure the highest level of protection and service that we can provide our customers.

This hurts me really. I love the integration of OneCare into the rest of the operating system and feel like it’s a no-brainer to use this type of product on your machines. I believe the multi-use agreement allowing you to install it on up to three machines with a single purchase price. I recently purchased it at Best Buy for $49.99.

It’s a great price for protection on three machines, but doesn’t seem like you’re getting much protection according to the study in the article. Given the response above, let’s hope that Microsoft jumps on these issues and starts rolling out some streaming updates as quickly as possible.

Post from: EveryJoe

Microsoft OneCare Far from #1

Looks like I’m not the only one. If you’re experiencing this problem you can go to this site and get some details on what others are experiencing and what they’re doing to remove the infection.

It seems to occur everytime you visit the Gmail site. Many people are tagging it to IE7, but I don’t think that’s the issue because it happens to me in Firefox as well.

The consensus seems to be to close all programs and allow your virus scanning software to do a deep scan of your machine. I’m going to do that now and go watch some TV.

Here’s some more details about the virus itself.

Post from: EveryJoe

BAT/BWG.A and Gmail and IE7 and Windows Live OneCare