Microsoft Security Essentials - start up problem

noodlebutty

I installed Microsoft Security Essentials yesterday and wonder why it is always off at start up. I have had to open it and start it up before connecting to the internet. Does anyone have any experience of this, does it have to be switched on like this all the time or should it automatically start up?

davb

I don't use it myself, but I am sure it should start automatically - otherwise it would be useless.
It sounds like it is not installed correctly, or you have a clash. Did your old antivirus (assuming you had one) uninstall cleanly? - sometimes you have to download and run the vendors removal/cleanup tool to get rid completely.

BillScarab

Is this any help?

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/msestart/thread/05a63b12-1be9-4bd3-898e-64674c1e9afd

It would be helpful if you posted a bit more information, such as what OS you are using, did you have a previous security package installed etc.

kwikbreaks

Maybe this is why folks are saying it is real light on resources

noodlebutty

:T Thanks, that link has sorted it out. I had to go into services.msc and change windows installer to automatic instead of manual, seems to have done the trick.

busenbust

Also, if you bring up task manager and see the msmpeng.exe process, then Windows Defender is assuredly running in the background; that's why I like MSE as it quietly and dutifully cracks on with its job in the background

busenbust

busenbust wrote: »

Also, if you bring up task manager and see the msmpeng.exe process, then Windows Defender is assuredly running in the background; that's why I like MSE as it quietly and dutifully cracks on with its job in the background

Just to point out, and clear up any confusion, that .exe file relates to Windows Defender, which you might not necessarily need to install if you install the entire MSE download.

BillScarab

Doesn't MSE switch off Defender as it incorporates the same functionality within MSE?

busenbust

BillScarab wrote: »

Doesn't MSE switch off Defender as it incorporates the same functionality within MSE?

Unsure. I had, firstly, installed Defender and then later installed MSE; MSE gave no warnings about conflicts/incompatibility between programs and Defender still updates definitions itself separately. But I take your point, I probably should remove Defender.

BillScarab

I'm sure on my system MSE disabled Defender.

Just found this on the Microsoft site.

"[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica]MSE includes Defender. There would be no point in running both. When
you run MSE, you'll see the processes from "Microsoft Malware Protection
Engine" (MSMPENG) which is in Defender. Installing MSE will disable
Defender because Defender is in MSE."[/FONT]

[Deleted User]

BillScarab wrote: »

Doesn't MSE switch off Defender as it incorporates the same functionality within MSE?

Security Essentials on Vista and 7 will disable defender. On XP the Security Essentials installer should have prompted for Defender to be removed before continuing.