March 13, 2006 Not Everyone Is Happy With Windows Live OneCare An update for the beta version of Microsoft's OneCare Live security subscription service causes problems. By Gregg Keizer Courtesy of An update late last week for security service has apparently given some users fits, including an industry analyst who called the glitches "unacceptable." Last week, Microsoft rolled out an update to the beta users of its OneCare Live security subscription service, which it now calls to better sync the moniker with the company's other online offerings. The update added anti-spyware functionality, courtesy , an enhancement Microsoft had long promised. But Live OneCare, which is to go final in for a three-PC license, has proven an iffy update for some. Joe Wilcox, an analyst with JupiterResearch, detailed his experiences updating three PCs this weekend in an Monday. One machine, he estimated, was unprotected for at least 48 hours because the automatic update had failed part-way through the process. Another required an hour and a half of install-uninstall-install tinkering before everything worked properly. Other users posted similar complaints to a . A writer identified only as "Jaffo" wrote on Saturday "I turned on my system and after it booted the one care system tray icon turned red." (OneCare uses a red-colored to signify when the system is unprotected.) Numerous messages on various OneCare threads spoke of a known problem with the security service updating when Framework 2.0 Beta also is on the PC -- including by a member of the OneCare development team in early February -- but the suggested fix didn't work for either Wilcox or Jaffo. "I followed OneCare troubleshooting instructions that recommended removing .NET Framework 2.0 Beta," wrote Wilcox. "Fine, except the computer had .NET Framework 2.0, apparently not beta. But I removed it anyway. After the computer restarted, I tried to start Windows OneCare Live. It wouldn't run because .NET Framework 2.0 wasn't available." Microsoft didn't elaborate on the cause nor confirm that it involved .NET Framework. "A small portion of the Windows Live OneCare managed beta customers are experiencing problems with their service," a spokesperson said. "We have identified the issue and are actively working to resolve it." The spokesperson claimed that only three percent of the managed beta users encountered the snafu. But Wilcox, for one, was ready to give up on the service because of the botched updates. "Microsoft is trying to win people's trust about security," he said. "That means a product like Windows Live OneCare has to work all the time, even in beta, particularly when the beta is widespread. No exceptions, no excuses. "With security software, there are no second chances." E-mail This Story Print This Story Get the latest Messaging news, product info, and trends every week.			Spyware And Adware Continue To Plague PCs FTC Smacks Spammer With $900K Fine IM: Real-Time Securrity Problems For Financial Services Bot Herders Ready Attack Against Message Forums Researchers Warn Of Coming Tax Scams Microsoft Vows To Keep Pressure On Phishers     Messaging Pipeline's Main RSS Feed     Messaging Pipeline's Blog RSS Feed Editorial and vendor perspectives The Six Flavors Of Windows Vista Microsoft plans to release a full six-pack of Vista versions, one for every taste. Which Vista will be right for you? Hope is Not Enough When It Comes To Compliance Three Ways To Authenticate E-Mail And Stop Spam Wikis In The Workplace Review: Google Desktop 3 Vendors are now talking about how collaboration can be improved by integrating video with messaging applications. They're even talking about adding live TV to mobile phones. How far do you go before it becomes a bandwidth and business productivity drain? Video is a great idea     13% Video is fine but there needs to be size limits     25% It's never used for anything really productive     38% I draw the line at live TV     25% In search of messaging products? Check out our brand new Product Finder for a directory of groupware and collaboration tools, security products, archiving solutions, and more.