Cannot update Microsoft Security Essentials

This is a actually a sub-thread under a separate discussion on the Windows Updates forum.

In connection with an inability to receive and install Vista updates-in-general over the past three days, it seems that I cannot update the definitions specific to Microsoft Security Essentials. The last automatic update of MSE was July 12, and attempting to download virus and spyware definitions right from the MSE panel now fails unconditionally.

Anyone else with this problem, or anyone with experience in doing some sort of 'manual install' to get around what may be a temporary hiccup in Microsoft Updates for Vista?

Running Vista-64 bit on a Dell desktop; using MSE version 4.9.218.0. Thanks!

electrojim said:

Anyone else with this problem, or anyone with experience in doing some sort of 'manual install' to get around what may be a temporary hiccup in Microsoft Updates for Vista?

Click to expand...

Hello again eloctrojim. I seem to be the only forum regular who is using MSE 4.9.218.0, and no I do not have this problem - perhaps because my Windows updates for the month of July were all successfully installed on Tuesday, whereas your system is still choking on them.

Try this: set Windows Update to "never check for updates." If you have disabled a Windows service, re-enable it. Restart the PC, then open MSE and try to manually update definitions via its Update tab (not by checking for Windows updates). Assuming this works, it might be a good time to try the solution for Windows updates suggested in your other thread.

Thanks, will do later today and will post results.