Windows Defender doesn't update correctly

[Guest]

I downloaded adn installed Defender 1.14.1436.4 since yesterday because
Antispyware asked for it. What i noticed after installation was that the
definitions were 102 days old. At status i can see Definition version :
1.0.0.0 created on 25-1-2006 at 21:29. So I pressed the button Check Now to
check for online backups, after a minute it says "Windows Defender is
up-to-date with definitions and engine upgrades". Nothing has changed because
i still have version 1.0.0.0, the only way to update is when i manually go to
Windows Update site and install KB915597. I want to avoid to manually update
all our computers at work (automatic updates are default off) so my question
is: Does Defender know how to update without Windows Update? and why won't
the "check now" work. (i've tried the signatures fix)

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

Windows Defender update via a different mechanism than Microsoft Antispyware
used. (I do wish they'd create a KB article for this, but it isn't very
complex to describe

Within the program, updates are done via AutoUpdate. If, in a managed
network., AutoUpdate is routed to WSUS, WSUS can be configured to distribute
Windows Update definitions--i.e. the administrator can enable them.

So--in your office situation, you'd need to be running WSUS, and have
enabled Windows Defender definitions in the WSUS admin interface.

So, the short answer is that it does not know how to update without
AutoUpdate--presumably, this is intentional on Microsoft's part to allow
corporate management to control updates within their networks.

Windows Update is the manual workaround.

 

[Guest]

--
bcwinch

Windows Defender update via a different mechanism than Microsoft Antispyware
used. (I do wish they'd create a KB article for this, but it isn't very
complex to describe

Within the program, updates are done via AutoUpdate. If, in a managed
network., AutoUpdate is routed to WSUS, WSUS can be configured to distribute
Windows Update definitions--i.e. the administrator can enable them.

So--in your office situation, you'd need to be running WSUS, and have
enabled Windows Defender definitions in the WSUS admin interface.

So, the short answer is that it does not know how to update without
AutoUpdate--presumably, this is intentional on Microsoft's part to allow
corporate management to control updates within their networks.

Windows Update is the manual workaround.

 

[Guest]

W2000SP4 Update rollup. After a lot of effort Windows Defender consented to
work but
A. It , in spite of being setup for auto daily updates gicves messages such
as "not updated for 16 days"
B. It stops the PC and looking in event viewer application log it shows up
various messages in some sort of code I do not undrstand.
C. Although I did the "error message" run application it doesnot update
definitions.
Is it my guess that this thing does not really work properly generally and
if thats not true why are there so many messages concerning Defender.
Equally, if it crashes the PC, which it does, is it plain dangerous to use.
To get my PC to function again I had to use a prior registry set up, Use
system Restore and uninstall Defender. Any helpful comments welcome. bcwinch