Windows Defender can't update automatically!!!

[Guest]

Hi,

I would like to know why Windows Defender can't update it's spyware
definition file automatically without having user (that's me) to trigger the
update manually.

It's very ironic that on the Option page of the defender software, there is
a checker box that stated automatic update new definition but when comes to
implementation, it doesn't work at all. Why can't the Defender works like
other spyware program that offers True Automatic Definition Update scheme.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

All the other 20 million users are updating automatically, so what's with
your installation?

Say just a little more--how are you triggering the update manually? Are you
doing this via help in the program, or are you going to Windows or Microsoft
Update?

Is this a home machine, or one in an office?

Within the application, Windows Defender updates via AutoUpdate. If
AutoUpdate is functional on your system, Windows Defender should update with
no action on your part required, depending on settings.

 

[Guest]

Hi Bill,

My PC is a office PC. Everyday when there is new update available, the
Defender will pop up a small question mark icon on the taskbar. When right
click on the icon, I open the Defender Update window saying there is a new
definition file available now. I have to click on the Update button, then
only Defender will start downloading the new definition file.

What's wrong with my PC setup? Any missing thing that I didn't check?

Please help.

 

[Guest]

Hello Captain Felix,

Whatever you do, (installing and updateting or unistalling) always as a
adinistratºr.
This is the key!

Can you gº to Windows Update, select Express (Get high-priority updates),
and apply all offered updªtes
http://update.microsoft.com

There are many pre-requisite files which are needed from windows update
and signature update with windows defender will fail until you hªve these
files.

Once that is finished, can you verify the update installs?


Follow these steps, even though the original cause of the problem appears
not to apply.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918355


Do you have automatic updates turned on--for Windºws?

Windows Defender uses AutoUpdate--so if your automatic updates are, in fact,
coming directly from a Microsoft server, Windows Defender updates should be
as well.


I hope this post is helpful.

Еиçеl

 

[someone]

I have Windows XP Pro at home and had WD search for updates. It found none.
(My present signature is v. 1.14.1843.1.) I then searched for a Windows
update. It found none. I have auto updates clicked. WD is supposed to
update before it scans. I have scheduled a scan daily at 4 PM. It is not 4
PM locally, but I won't be on my puter at 4.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

If Defender looked, and then stated that no new definitions were found, on a
home machine not connected to a domain, that would seem to me to indicate
that Defender is up to date. Is it?

In terms of the update ahead of scheduled scans--that should happen--if the
machine is on and connected to the Internet at the scheduled time. If the
machine is not on, the scan will happen--I think 20 minutes after the
subsequent logon--and presumably the update will happend first--but I'm not
completely certain of that behavior.

--

 

[someone]

When I turned on the puter today and checked the sig of WD, it had the
latest one. It said that this was updated on 11/29 at 2:23 PM. I think I
checked for the update prior to that time (quite close to that time
actually), when I discovered there was one, but the info given then was the
old sig v. Anyway, the latest was updated.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

This sounds like Automatic Updates are set to "Notify me but don't
automatically download or install them." This is in control panel,
automatic updates.

Others have expressed a wish that there could be a setting to allow Windows
Defender updates to proceed automatically, but not other updates, but in the
current versions of the software involved, that option doesn't exist.
--

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

I think that the appearance on the home page doesn't change unless you close
and reopen the app. Also, autoupdate can be applying the update at the same
time as you are checking for it, with varying kinds of error messages or
confusion. Glad it worked!

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