Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Windows Live Essentials on Microsoft Update

With the release of Windows Live Essentials 2011, the Microsoft Product Update Team announced that it will be available through Windows Update, starting October 19, 2010.  (Note:  Windows Live Essentials 2011 is not compatible with Windows XP.)

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users will be offered the update as a "Recommended Update" if any one of the Windows Live software programs are installed.

If you do NOT have any of the Windows Live Essentials programs installed on your computer, it will still be offered but as an "Optional Update".   It is not necessary to install if you do not use any of the programs.

Live Mesh is being replaced by Windows Live Mesh.  As a result, support for Live Mesh ends March 31, 2011 and the beta will stop working.  After that date, you will not be able to access any files stored online in your Live Desktop or connect to your PCs remotely using the Live Mesh software. In addition, your files will also stop syncing between your computers and your Live Mesh online storage. 


The system requirements for Windows Live Essentials 2011 are provided in Microsoft KB Article 2434419:
Windows Live Essentials requires the following
  • Operating system: 32- and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 with the Platform Update for Windows Vista; or Windows 7; or Windows Server 2008 with Service Pack 2 and the Platform Update for Windows Server 2008; or Windows Server 2008 R2.
  • Processor: 1.6 GHz or higher
  • Memory: 1 GB of RAM or higher
  • Resolution: Minimum: 1024 × 576
  • Internet connection: Internet functionality requires dial-up or broadband Internet access (provided separately). Local or long-distance charges may apply.
  • Graphics or video card: Windows Live Movie Maker requires a video card that supports DirectX 9 or higher and Shader Model 2 or higher.
  • For Photo Gallery and Movie Maker: Some required components of DirectX 9 may be installed for you if they're not already on your computer.
  • For Windows Live Mesh: To run Windows Live Mesh on a Mac, you must have OS X 10.5 or newer installed. If you already installed an earlier version of Window Live Sync beta or Live Mesh beta, please see the detailed release notes (http://explore.live.com/windows-live-2011-release-notes) for additional requirements.Instructions


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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I updated a computer today that had no visible installation of Windows Live and the update was marked as "Recommended". I have to admit, I was incensed.

If what you say it true, perhaps I missed a faulty install of Windows Live on the computer...but I don't think so.

-Brian Fiori (AKA The Dean)

Corrine said...

Hi, Brian. It is nice to see you. :)

I had a few of the Windows Live programs installed on one machine. The update was indicated as a "Recommended Update" but was NOT pre-checked. When I selected it, I was given the opportunity to update just the programs I have installed or to install the entire "suite".

A second machine does not have any of the Windows Live Essentials programs installed. It was offered as an "Important" update but was not checked.

A third machine already had Windows Live Essentials 2011 installed.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the clarification, Corinne.

It's good the updates were unchecked, but how can a Windows Live update be considered "Important" for a machine with no WL programs installed? Oh well.

-The Dean