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    I have 3 computers with Windows live onecare and recently added a 4th one. How can I add this to windows live onecare? Or do I have to buy software like McAfee and install on all 4 and unsubscribe to MS onecare. Thanks.

    Wednesday, May 7, 2008 3:24 PM

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    That sure sound like an ultimatum.

    By license, OneCare can be installed on up to 3 computers using the same LiveID - which makes them part of a Circle. For a 4th PC, you need to purchase a second subscription at this time, which requires the use of a different LiveID. This also means that the 4th PC will not be part of the original Circle.

    If you review the other forum threads on this topic you will see that you can technically activate the 4th PC on the original LiveID/Subscription ID, but it is against the terms of the license. You'll also read that you are not alone in wishing to have the ability to add more licenses to the same subscription.

    -steve

     

    Wednesday, May 7, 2008 4:07 PM
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    That sure sound like an ultimatum.

    By license, OneCare can be installed on up to 3 computers using the same LiveID - which makes them part of a Circle. For a 4th PC, you need to purchase a second subscription at this time, which requires the use of a different LiveID. This also means that the 4th PC will not be part of the original Circle.

    If you review the other forum threads on this topic you will see that you can technically activate the 4th PC on the original LiveID/Subscription ID, but it is against the terms of the license. You'll also read that you are not alone in wishing to have the ability to add more licenses to the same subscription.

    -steve

     

    Wednesday, May 7, 2008 4:07 PM
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    Hi Steve,

    Thank you very much for clarifying. I will wait until Microsoft comes up with new licensing structure. In the meantime I wll be using Avast for my other desktop.

    ---Chandra.

     

     

    Sunday, May 18, 2008 1:42 AM
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    I have much the same question, except that in my case the three computers are actually two physical computers, one with two boot partitions.  My third (physical) computer has Norton SystemWorks, which is expiring shortly, and I want to remove the Norton software and install Windows Live OneCare on it.  Looks like I will have to renew the NSW instead.

     

     

    Friday, May 30, 2008 4:05 PM
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    I have the exact same problem. I've added a PC for my son and I can't add a fourth. Isn't ridiculous!
    Even if I pay. I don't want to run a company network, just the family PCs

    You hou Microsoft! wake up. I bought it to replace competitive products of yours, and to thank me, it does not work...
    Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:08 PM
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    I have the exact same problem. I've added a PC for my son and I can't add a fourth. Isn't ridiculous!
    Even if I pay. I don't want to run a company network, just the family PCs

    You hou Microsoft! wake up. I bought it to replace competitive products of yours, and to thank me, it does not work...

    This is a long standing complaint about the Circle feature - that you are limited to 3 PCs in a subscription and therefore in a Circle. Since OneCare is going away, it is now a moot point, though. My recommendation is to go ahead and install on the 4th PC for now and activate. As long as you haven't activated repeatedly on multiple PCs without removing "ghost" entries from the Circle management view on a Hub, you can activate more than 3 PCs with the same LiveID. Technically, you'll be in violation of the license, but I doubt that anyone will be knocking on your door. When your subscription expires, you can switch to the free antimalware replacement that is coming before the end of the year or another product.
    -steve
    Microsoft MVP Windows Live / Windows Live OneCare & Live Mesh Forum Moderator
    Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:49 PM
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