Microsoft Security Essentials

First of all, no, i wont install some third party placebo bloat-ware such as Norton or AVG. I've been using MSE since Vista and have yet to encounter any viruses or malware that couldnt be removed by simply uninstalling some addon in firefox that injects adds into everything.

The issue im having is that after a Windows Update, MSE decided to stop working. I uninstalled it using MS official removal tool and then tried to re-install it using MS's provided MSE installer, though it simply say installation has encountered an issue and cannot continue.

Any ideas would much appreciated

thanks.

 

If installer exe-file is archive with msi-file(s) inside, you can extract content and lunch msi-package installation in command line like 'msiexec.exe /i package_file_path /L*v log_file_path' (http://technet.microsoft.com/ru-ru/library/bb490936.aspx) so that you could browse created MSI log-file to discover the error.

Otherwise you can look whether installer exe-file has its own command line parameters for logging - try to execute it with '/?' or '-?' parameters.

Edit: Also have you searched in Event viewer for installation failure details?

 

MSE has been shown to be the worst AV available for some time now, coming last in all detection tests

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The latest tests from Dennis Publishing's security labs saw Microsoft Security Essentials fail to detect 39% of the real-world malware thrown at it.

Dennis Technology Labs (DTL) tested nine home security products on a Windows 7 PC, including Security Essentials, which is distributed free to Windows users and built into Windows 8 in the form of Windows Defender.

While the other eight packages all achieved protection scores of 87% or higher - with five scoring 98% or 99% - Microsoft's free antivirus software protected against only 61% of the malware samples used in the test.

Microsoft conceded last year that its security software was intended to offer only "baseline" performance, saying it wanted to "give customers a good reason to pay for their [security] products" because that would create greater diversity in the market and make life harder for malware writers.
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/securit...ssentials-misses-39-of-malware-in-dennis-test


One of many reviews that show it come dead last

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Microsoft: Security Essentials is designed to be bottom of the antivirus rankings

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/securit...signed-to-be-bottom-of-the-antivirus-rankings

 

Thanks for the info so far guys.

Though I've always felt that the anit-virus industry was the equivalent of giving someone medicine after they've gotten over being sick. Kinda redundant then isnt it.

Also, those percentages make no sense. How did they manage to get all of the worlds know viruses and "benchmark" the many anti-virus software? Thats like saying you've defeated the ever adapting strand of the common cold.

Anyhow, could careless where it ranks, its just done the job for me since it was MS defender (which has made a return in windows 8) in vista and as such, dont feel the need to install some thirdparty bloat-ware that causes more problems than it fixes.

 

I started to use MSE 3 years ago. Before that I did not use any antivirus app (and I did disable Defender). I understand that I was lucky. But also I was cautious and vigilant.

I doubt antivirus software is capable to protect against hacker attacks which use OS exploits. And I don`t scare to get a virus because best antivirus solution are regular backups.

 

What if your backup is infected ?

What if a genuine website is Hijacked and you visit it and become infected and do not know? Then backup and that backup becomes infected ?

They don't get all of the worlds malware, they take a selection of malware that is currently floating around infecting people, then they throw it at all the big named / no-named AVs, and see which ones detect/remove the most, and which ones detect and remove the least

MSE comes dead last

 

No big deal because I don`t use home PC for a business. If virus does something that causes strange behavior of OS I am capable either to track it manually or do restore until strange behavior is gone.

 

Prevention is better than cure

 

100% prevention is not possible, so...
And tracking down viruses manually is fun.

 

100% is not possible, but over 69% (MSE) is easily possible with a decent AV (98%+)

And tracking down viruses is not that much fun on your own machine

 

You are right for majority of users.

 

@OP Have you tried removing the last update that bork'd MSE?

As for the MSE discussion here, I'm one the first persons to bash M$ and their products but based on my experience MSE is a very decent AV IMHO. I currently run it on several PC's I own. All systems are infection free. Is it luck or is MSE really doing its job? I do occasionally run/scan NOD32 (Licensed Version) and other AV/AntiMalware products to verify I am virus/malware free.

You probably asking if I have a Lic Ver of NOD32 why do I run MSE. Well I like to real world test products I recommend to clients. Not going to recommend so useless cr@p and make myself look bad

 

I was one of the people that used MSE for years as it was unobtrusive and every other av out there is way too aggressive.I however know how to spot things and know enough not to click on things and have got hit once in 10 years.I currently just use what is built into Win 8.1. There is nothing more annoying then having pop ups telling me it's doing something even when it's benign.

 

CHeers for all the input everyone, though still no luck so far.

Thats the thing, i dont which update borked it. Though i did go though and uninstall every update that was installed on the same day that it decided to stop working.

Windows Defender, which is replaced by MSE in windows 7 (then visa versa in windows 8) is running, along with its associated service.

I've tried using the official MS MSE uninstall program, which worked from what i can see, as there is no folders on my PC referencing to MSE, other than some old reg entries.

But when ever i go to use the MSE installer from MS site, it simply says the operation cannot continue.

 

On Win8.1 here and I use MSE (which is built into Windows 8 as part of defender). I just let that do its thing, and when I want to do a "proper" scan my self I use Malwarebytes Premium version.

Remember don't visit sites you don't trust, don't open emails from spammers, don't click on ad banners, dont install something you don't 100% trust.

 

Run CCleaner both reg cleaner and normal cleaner, run it a few times.

Also empty temp folder, type %temp% into search bar in start menu

Delete everything in there, if it says some files are in use ignore them.

Reboot PC see if that works.

 

@OP may want to try a system restore. Sounds like one of those updates screwed up something MSE needs to install. This problem may go beyond MSE as well.


Also try in a elevated command prompt run

Code:

sfc /scannow

 

@OP - MSE is just fine so long as you, the user, minimize the risk to the system through responsible usage. If you're browsing every porn site on the web, the antivirus software makes no difference.

You're just as safe running a malware removal utility such as Malwarebyte's AntiMalware Free, an ad blocker and MSE as you are running any of the popular security suites. Where most of the "security suites" fail is in prevention. If you remove the threat, such as blocking malicious ads, you reduce the risk of infection and your dependency on antivirus software.

 

What if a nuclear war starts by accident and your house is turned into flaming matchsticks?

Some thing aren't worth being scared about my friend. I personally just use Avast. I also visit like three sites on a consistent rotation. Never been infected. Not when I used MSE, not now, probably not ever.

 

I was replying to that member saying he uses backups as an AV