Clean Your Windows PC with Microsoft’s OneCare (Free)

We have all used applications to try and fix up our computers. It goes back to the early 90’s and a little program called Norton Utilities. Then lots of other similar products showed up and yet Microsoft still did not feel the need to release one themselves – maybe they were just looking to help consultants like myself along with tons of work.

It looks like Microsoft has wised up a bit and offers a little service called OneCare it is located at http://safety.live.com . When I tell some people about it they roll their eyes and give me that look, you know the look that says I do not want to give Billy Gates anymore of my hard earned money! Well if that was the case you would not be reading this on MakeUseOf… Are you following me?

Good! So long story short this is a free service that any authenticate version of XP or Vista can use to get a cleaning. It does not just look for spyware and viruses…

It also checks for registry mis-configurations and errors as well as other system issues like fragmentation. It will check on your firewall and antivirus programs as well. This program will also NOT let you shoot yourself in the foot. You will NOT be walking away with a busted computer when you are finished. Everything is un-doable via restore points as well. The one short fall of this application is that it MUST be run in Internet Explorer.

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