Posted February 6, 201311 yr FPCH Admin I have Windows 7 SP1 and am having issues with Windows Defender and MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials). I recently thought about changing my anti-virus software from MSE to something else but after uninstalling MSE, I decided against switching to another product. Before I reinstalled MSE, I noticed that Windows Defender was re-enabled and Windows Update offered definition updates (under "Important") and MSE was under "optional". I chose to get MSE and began the installation process. After it finished installing, I allowed it to get the definition updates and run a scan on my PC. Shortly after this, I rebooted my PC and when I got to my desktop again I had a Windows Update notification that had a Windows Defender definition update under "Important" still. I was confused by this since my understanding was that when MSE or any other anti-virus program is installed, Windows Defender will automatically disable itself and thus I wouldn't be seeing any definition updates for it after having MSE reinstalled. I chose to "hide" the update and figured that would be the end of it. But I was wrong, a few minutes later another Windows Defender definition update was in Windows Update under "important" but this one had a date older than the one I had hidden. I also chose to hide this. I did this several times and gave up eventually after realizing that this most likely will go back until 2010 (when I last updated Windows Defender). Not wanting to deal with hiding all these updates from the past and most likely new ones that would appear the next time Windows Defender had a new update, I decided to uninstall MSE again try getting the updates through Windows Defender. I went to check out Windows Defender and noticed that I am not able to click on "Scan", "History", or "Tools" and I also saw a message on the program's main screen that says: "A problem caused this program's service to stop. To start the service, click the Start now button or restart your computer." When I clicked Start now, it gave a message saying that it timed out trying to start the service and restarting the computer resulted in no changes (other than the Windows Defender updates failing). I gave up and reinstalled MSE, once again got the updates, and ran a scan (made sure that Real-time protection was still enabled for MSE also). This is my current situation now I have MSE but am still getting notifications daily about Windows Defender definition updates. I tried to use the fix windows update feature under system and security in the troubleshooter (in control panel) and it said it fixed windows update errors but I'm still having the same issue and noticed no changes. Failed Windows update: Definition Update for Windows Defender - KB915597 (Definition 1.143.1556.0) Installation date: 2/6/2013 12:18 AM Installation status: Failed Error details: Code 8007007E Update type: Important Install this update to revise the definition files used to detect spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Once you have installed this item, it cannot be removed. More information: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/about/overview.mspx Help and Support: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=52661 View this thread Off Topic Forum - Unlike the Rest
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