Sorry--that makes perfect sense. Yes. Every machine I've ever installed
the product on can run updates, both manually via File, check for updates,
and automatically (which you can test via Start, All programs, microsoft
antispyware, microsoft antispyware update.)
However, there are posts here from folks who can't. Is Internet Explorer
NOT set to "work offline"
Do you have a software firewall which might be interfering with the outbound
traffic necessary to initiate the definition download? The documentation
for firewall configuration may well have incorrect names for the executables
involved--if you need to configure a software firewall, look at both the
help and the actual files on the disk and adjust accordingly.