How to manage computers in your OneCare circle

Your OneCare circle is a small network of computers that share the same Windows Live OneCare subscription. After you set up your OneCare circle, you can add or remove computers, make one or more computers a hub computer from which you can monitor or manage the other computers in your OneCare circle, or share a printer in your circle.

For more information about how to share a printer, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Additionally, you can set up a centralized backup device that is used for all computers in your OneCare circle. The backup files from all the computers in the circle are stored on a central device, such as an external hard disk drive, that is attached to the hub computer.

For more information about centralized backups, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Add a computer to your circle

1. Open Windows Live OneCare.
2. Click Manage your OneCare circle. Or, if you have a OneCare circle set up, click the OneCare circle.
3. Click Add a PC.
4. Follow the steps in the wizard.
   Note To replace one of the computers in your circle with a different computer, you must first remove the appropriate computer from your circle, and then add the other computer to the circle.

Remove a computer from your circle

1. Open Windows Live OneCare.
2. Click Manage your OneCare circle. Or, if you have a OneCare circle set up, click the OneCare circle.
3. For the computer that you want to remove, click the drop-down arrow next to Details.
4. Click Remove this PC, and then click Yes, remove this PC.

Change the name of a computer in your circle

By default, Windows Live OneCare uses the same name that Microsoft Windows uses for the computer that you are using. However, you may want to change the name of the computer to help make it more identifiable in your circle. To change the name of a computer, follow these steps:

1. Open System Properties, to do this follow the steps for your operating system:
   • In Windows XP, click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then press ENTER.
   • In Windows Vista, click Start
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     , type sysdm.cpl in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
     
     
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     If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
2. On the Computer Name tab, click Change.
3. In the Computer name box, enter the name that you want, and then click OK.
4. When you receive a message that states that you must restart the computer for the changes to take effect, click OK.
5. Close the System properties dialog box, and then restart the computer.
   Note If the User Account Control dialog box appears and prompts you for permission to continue while you are performing an action in Windows Vista, click Continue.