Microsoft Security Essentials - Is it really scanning to your sheduled settings?

Microsoft Security Essentials - Is it really scanning to your scheduled settings?

I am concerned that Microsoft Security Essentials [MSE] is not performing as it should, because it doesn't appear to be activating and running a scan as scheduled under Settings.

If I open MSE and choose to click on the Scan Now button to carry out a Manual Scan on demand, then three events are clearly visible in 'real time' -

• There is activity on the progress bar of the window that opens, and files being scanned are clearly seen.
• The MSE Icon in the Notification Tray shows rotational movement indicating that a scan is in progress. and,
• At the end, a summarised report window opens. Example here -

.......this shows how many items were scanned, and reports on the 'threats' status.

I have tried to verify my claim above, by carrying out a number of 'tests', primarily to try and determine if User scheduled scan settings, are actually initiating the automatic update and scan by MSE.

The scheduled 'test' scan times have come and gone, without any visual evidence to show that MSE has automatically activated and conducted the scan, as set by User settings. None of the following show any evidence of a scan either starting, being 'in progress', or ever being carried out;

• The MSE Icon does not activate.
• There is no post-scan report [as shown above from the manual scan]. and,
• A check of Windows Update, shows that no further Updated Definitions for MSE, have been added to Update History.

I am beginning to suspect that because I use Firefox as my default browser, somehow this may disable or immobilise the automatic scheduled scan function of MSE. I also wonder how many other Users are experiencing the same difficulties.

To try and determine how widespread this apparent problem may be, please take part in the Poll above.

I don't actually watch it do it's scan but have it set to do a quick scan every Sunday at 13.00. I set it for that time as I'm not using the computer then so it can just get on with it and I don't take much notice apart from seeing that it gives the following Sunday's date for the next one.

I will say though that some updates to the defs make the icon change colour and when you bring the program up it tells you that you haven't scanned for a while and you may be in danger, I just click the scan now button, in fact I had to do that this morning.

I also have the paid version of MalwareBytes running in real time and SpywareBlaster so I'm not too worried.

I don't use MSE but if it uses the Task Scheduler to automate tasks, there should be an entry that shows when it was last run. If there's not even an entry is Task Scheduler then you know it's not firing at all.

Well even I suspect that MSE doesnt perform scheduled tasks like updating and scanning. I have simply never seen it doing anything automatically.

Joan Archer said:

I don't actually watch it do it's scan but have it set to do a quick scan every Sunday at 13.00. I set it for that time as I'm not using the computer then so it can just get on with it and I don't take much notice apart from seeing that it gives the following Sunday's date for the next one.

I will say though that some updates to the defs make the icon change colour and when you bring the program up it tells you that you haven't scanned for a while and you may be in danger, I just click the scan now button, in fact I had to do that this morning.

I also have the paid version of MalwareBytes running in real time and SpywareBlaster so I'm not too worried.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback Joan, and it would sure help if you could snip and post a couple of 'before' and 'after' shots of the MSE window. Say, one of your current status, then another again after MSE has done it's thing on Sunday.

MilesAhead said:

I don't use MSE but if it uses the Task Scheduler to automate tasks, there should be an entry that shows when it was last run. If there's not even an entry is Task Scheduler then you know it's not firing at all.

Click to expand...

Thanks also MilesAhead for the advice above. I will check it out later, and get back with what I find.

Hallo Sass, I am not really in a position to be of help as i do not use MSE but i am curious as to your findings because i do recommend MSE to many people as i feel it would best suit their particular needs.
I thought that you may find this link of interest in regards to updateing, I hope it is of some help in your quest for the facts.

Best wishes :D
MSE Definitions/Signatures Update FAQ

MilesAhead said:

I don't use MSE but if it uses the Task Scheduler to automate tasks, there should be an entry that shows when it was last run. If there's not even an entry is Task Scheduler then you know it's not firing at all.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice MilesAhead.

I checked out the Task Scheduler as you suggested, and there isn't anything listed under either Task Status or Active Tasks listings, that even remotely looks like Microsoft Security Essentials.

That done, I decided to have a look in Problem Reports and Solutions. Uh! Oh! 'Mission Control we have a problem!'.....here;



OK! It's quite apparent that this could be the root of my difficulties, but in not being conversant on how to read these reports, I haven't a clue as to how I can take steps to resolve the obvious problem that is plaguing me.

Or, do I ignore the Problem Report altogether, just bite the bullet and go through an Uninstall/ Reinstall of MSE? If so, I'm also uncertain of the vulnerability that I expose myself to while extracting one obviously corrupted protection shield, and in the period before I have a chance to reinstall and run a cleaner version? In other words, how do I go about cleaning out the old, and replacing it with the new?

I think that I am able to download MSE to a Firefox Downloads Folder, then go into Windows Explorer to uninstall the current MSE program and set-up that is causing all the problems, before returning to the Firefox Folder to carry out the reinstallation. Does that seem right, and should I physically disconnect my Internet cable from the Laptop at any point during all of this??

"Mission Control....we really do have a problem!!"......here;



Next question is obviously, how do I turn on or activate the Event Service Log?

It appears that it was disabled about the time that a new and increased capacity Hard Disk Drive was installed in the Laptop.

MSE scans automatically to my set time, give or take 10mins.

Do you have the "scan when not in use option" checked?

sassofalco said:

"Mission Control....we really do have a problem!!"......here;

View attachment 18468

Next question is obviously, how do I turn on or activate the Event Service Log?

It appears that it was disabled about the time that a new and increased capacity Hard Disk Drive was installed in the Laptop.

Click to expand...

Is this any help? Control Panel > Administrative tools > Computer Managment > Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Properties > Enable Logging

View attachment 18470

I am only haveing a guess at this is what you are after :D

A7X808 said:

MSE scans automatically to my set time, give or take 10mins.
Do you have the "scan when not in use option" checked?

Click to expand...

Nope......my settings are;

Mine is showing in Task Scheduler Tony.

Joan Archer said:

Mine is showing in Task Scheduler Tony.

Click to expand...

Thanks Joan,

You've just given 'dumbo' here a valuable pointer. OK! We're getting right down to basics here, but the truth is that I just don't know!

This is my Task Scheduler, and as MilesAhead so correctly suspected, it shows absolutely nothing;



OK. Am I able to go back to the original Problem Report, here;



...to copy the File Reference,
Microsoft Antimalware (BCF43643-A118-4432-AEDE-D861FCBCFCDE)
and paste it into the Name panel here,



to create a new task, and hopefully resolve the issue?

This is all 'Never-never Land' to me, and I'm at a complete loss with this sort of admin.

Purely for educational purposes, from the Problem Report - what does this mean, and how do I go about doing some self-help with this information?
Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: 951329716

OK. I've about had enough of this to and fro. I have the MSE setup file downloaded and saved to my Desktop.

In order to ensure the safest possible changeover, should I now -

• disable [remove ethernet connection] my Internet connection.
• Uninstall current MSE.
• Reinstall new MSE setup from the Desktop file.
• Reboot.
• Reconnect internet connection.

Advice on above?

Sorry I'm late here today Tony and I've just seen your post.

My advice would be to do the steps you've set out and the first thing to do after reconnecting to the Internet would be to update MSE so that it has the latest def files.

Hope this helps I'm by no means an expert but just giving my opinion.

Joan Archer said:

Sorry I'm late here today Tony and I've just seen your post.
My advice would be to do the steps you've set out and the first thing to do after reconnecting to the Internet would be to update MSE so that it has the latest def files.
Hope this helps I'm by no means an expert but just giving my opinion.

Click to expand...

....and much valued, thanks Joan. And the immediate update of definitions was on the cards, but that shouldn't present too many problems as the majority of them are already sitting in Windows Update.

OK, I uninstalled, then reinstalled MSE, then set up a test Scheduled Scan.

That scheduled time has well come and gone, and no evidence appears to show that the scan was performed. In fact, the last scan [started by me] reports that it was done some two hours before I went through the Uninstall/Reinstall process.

So I've now gone into Windows Features, and am wondering if there is something here that is missing a 'check' alongside it, to ensure auto-activation of the MSE scheduled scan function;



This is all very frustrating:huh:

There are obviously some underlying issues or problems that are plaguing my system, as I just couldn't get MSE to run and operate as it clearly should.

All updates and scans using MSE needed to be performed manually/daily, and this was becoming a little labourious. As a consequence, MSE has been consigned to and unceremoniously dumped into the bin......MSE is no more.

I've now opted for and installed avast! FREE ANTIVIRUS - Version 5.0.448, and that, along with a well updated re-activated Windows Defender, is now doing very well, thank-you.

It's a shame, because I did like the look of MSE and it's functions etc., and it did show up that I do have other Performance, Monitoring and Task Scheduling issues within my system. That's a bonus I suppose, with the downside now being that I need to pinpoint exactly where the system problems are, and get them sorted, or up and running.

Any suggestions where and how to start?

Sorry to hear you're not able to run MSE as you want Tony, as for where to start I have no idea but one thought is do you have any other tasks set to automatically do things.
Have a look into Task Scheduler to see if that is the problem, good luck sorry I couldn't help anymore, do let us know if you manage to find anything out

Joan Archer said:

Sorry to hear you're not able to run MSE as you want Tony, as for where to start I have no idea but one thought is do you have any other tasks set to automatically do things.
Have a look into Task Scheduler to see if that is the problem, good luck sorry I couldn't help anymore, do let us know if you manage to find anything out

Click to expand...

Thanks Joan,

Sorry I haven't been back to you sooner, but as you've probably seen, I've been dealing to an issue with the Task Manager, elsewhere.

Interesting to note though, that avast! performed a scan for me this morning, exactly as scheduled, and reported as set.

It is a shame, as MSE looked perfect for my needs, but with it misbehaving as it was, it unfortunately gave a sense of some insecurity to me. I like to know that all systems are locked up, without any cause for errors or potential leaks.












Cheers..........#900. 900th post!! I remember well the day as I stared at little old #1, poor wee solitary #1.....all about a 'Pointing Device Error'......will I ever learn from my mistakes? That #1 was 14 Oct 2008 - Time for a new brain transplant!!