Windows Defender

[Guest]

Have just downloaded Beta 2 & tried to run first scan. Got error:
0x80508012. Ran a second scan & that completed OK. Complete layperson on
these things so wanted to check with someone who knows what they're talking
about! Thanks

 

[Bill Sanderson]

If you google on that error it takes you straight to the release notes which
say:

.. If you attempt to scan your computer at the same time Windows Defender
(Beta 2) downloads definition updates, you might see the following message:
"Windows Defender encountered an error: 0x80508012. An unexpected problem is
preventing the program from scanning your computer for unwanted software.
Try to scan your computer again." To resolve this issue, run the scan again
after the definitions are updated.

This may not be the only cause--and definition updates are a background
process--so the timing can be hard to determing.

It is clearly something they are aware of and working on fixing--thanks for
the report!

 

[Guest]

I never get this error message when I run a quick scan, only when I try to
run a full scan, but I also get a very similar message when I try to click on
the start scan button, but it says something like invalid pointer 0x80508012.
If I go into the scan menu though and choose full scan then I get the
0x80508012 unexpected problem message. Are they somehow connected? Cheers
for any info. David

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

Let's check on your Windows Defender version--hit the arrow next to the Help
question mark, and choose About Windows Defender.

What's the top version number displayed? If you are on an OS other than the
Vista Beta--and this number is less than 1.1.1347.0, then revisit
www.microsoft.com, hit the link for Windows Defender and do a new
download--just run the download to update what you have in place. The
install process will reset Spynet membership to basic or less, so revisit
that setting after the install if you wish to maintain advanced Spynet
membership.

I'd like to be sure you are on the current code to see whether that error
might already be fixed. This code is not being automatically notified or
downloaded to users of the older versions yet.

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