Windows XP & MS Security Essentials conflict ?

[BCR]

A few weeks ago I found on two occasions (about a week apart) that if I attempted to download MS Security updates to a PC running XP, the attempted update would be carried out (used up about 5 – 8 megs each time), but would ultimately fail to update the Antivirus.

On a PC running Windows 7, around the same time, the system automatically prompted me to d/load a newer version of MS Security (which I did & all fine there.)

Re the XP problem, what’s the best thing to do :

1. Uninstall then d/load /reinstall MS Security Essentials ? ;
2. Run System Restore to an earlier date, then attempt to update MS Security again ?
3. Delete some file or other from Windows Update, that may be causing the problem ?
4. Uninstall MS Security, then d/load a different Antivirus (like Avira) ?
5. Try something else ....?

Thought it might have to do with support for XP coming to an end, but I do see on the following Wikipedia page, under ‘’Support lifecycle’’ : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP
..... that ‘’On April 8, 2014, all Windows XP support, including security updates and security-related hotfixes, will be terminated.’’ , so that shouldn’t be the cause of any problem(s).

Any constructive advice will be appreciated.

Rgds.

 

[kingrob]

Don't uninstall anything, it might be that you've got a service turned off that MSE needs.

MSE does sometimes have a "glitch", this article will point you in the right direction : http://www.mydigitallife.info/2010/...us-and-spyware-definitions-signature-problem/

*On a Vista pc I had the same problem & simply did the following :

1. Go to Services. (Click on your Start menu, right click Computer and click Manage. Then look in the left pane and scroll all the way down to Services).

2. Look for Background Intelligent Transfer Service. If the service is set as "Automatic (Delayed Start)", change this to "Automatic" & reboot.

3. MSE should be updating now.

 

[BCR]

Thanks, 'kingrob' .. once again, you've come to the rescue.

However, I'll only try this later on, on the comp. running XP, but have changed the setting on that using 7, and will do so as well on a laptop with Vista, to avoid issues further on down-the-line.