Microsoft Security Essentials keeps closing

Hi Samuel,

I'm not quite sure where you are (but we've seen a lot of this) so lets start from the beginning, check a few things, and make sure everything is done correctly. And we're going to forget upgrading and install MSE fresh to remove upgrade problems from the equation. This virtually always solves the issue though the issue varies from case to case. I believe it is a conflict with something that existed that didn't bother prior versions (check with the tool for anything that may be there from the past) or with how the upgrade deals with removing the prior MSE version (and doesn't do it well sometimes and even MrFixit isn't enough). Please don't skip steps or shortcut. All may not be needed (most usually isn't) but follow in order until the situation is resolved.

Start with the following compliments of Dr. Strangelove:

Verify that you have removed all other real-time antimalware products that were ever installed on your PC, including free/trial products that were installed when the PC was purchased (Norton, McAfee, TM, AVG, OneCare, Malwarebytes (paid), etc). Then, use the cleanup tools here: List of anti-malware program cleanup/uninstall tools. You MUST use the cleanup/removal tools to get rid of these programs properly as the normal uninstall process leaves remnants behind that cause problems with any other AV product you install later including MSE.This means not only current ones but any EVER (including free trials you may never have used) or done years ago and possibly forgotten. See the following compliments of Dave__M:If you aren't sure of what may still be on your system as remnants, which could be interfering with the MSE install, try a scan of your system with this security application detection and removal specialist:http://www.appremover.com/.Do not yet remove the one primary AV program you are using until you have downloaded the MSE file so you are protected while doing so then uninstall and remove that program after the download but before beginning to install MSE.

NOTE: If you have installed Adobe FLASH, and you already had the Google toolbar, you were presented with the option to install McAfee Security Scanner, which is selected by default. If you were caught by this, and unknowingly/accidentally installed McAfee, uninstall it and use the McAfee cleanup tool in the list above. Other programs "package" deals like this as well with this or other products and if you've recently done a clean install (a restore to factory conditions) you may have also re-installed trial software that you long since forgot was there.

Verify that your PC clock is correctly set. If not, correct it. If it is wrong, you may also want to either synchronize with a different internet time server or replace your CMOS battery (which keeps the clock running when you turn off the PC and like any battery can eventually run down).

Verify that you are up-to-date with SERVICE PACKS and updates (including .NET and IE). Yes, it can take some time to do this.

Verify if MSE is already installed that Windows Defender is disabled (Vista or W7) or uninstalled (XP).If not, please do so as this is a classic cause of conflict-related problems.

Then, if anything changed, restart your PC.

If that doesn't work, try the following:

Try a clean boot (Vista and W7) http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135 (except for MSE). If the problem goes away then it's just a matter of tracking down the culprit causing the problem. Follow the procedures in the article. Once found, delete, remove, deactivate, or uninstall it. Once done be sure to reset your system back to normal status as explained in the procedures. If the problem occurs in clean mode then just restore the system to normal status and reboot - this solution is not going to work. If using XP, seehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353 andhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434.

If that doesn't work, uninstall and re-install MSE. To uninstall MSE, proceed as follows:http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/protect_start/uninstalling-mse/a63b8c4b-58ed-437e-8086-fa08d80725a4 ortry http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2483120 I suspect some problem with uninstalling the prior version is behind this, so you may need to focus more of the second link with the Mr Fixit and probably also the manual procedures to be sure it is completely removed.

To install or re-install MSE, check out this article and follow ALL the procedures:http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/protect_start/check-list-for-installing-microsoft-security/bf757e6a-e320-4a67-92bc-767e6acb26c4- but also check out the next paragraph before you begin the download.

If you do or ever did have any other AV program installed on your computer (even if you didn't use it), you need to make sure they are all uninstalled and fully removed after downloading MSE but before you install. To fully remove them, check out this listing of removal toolshttp://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/msestart/thread/407bf6da-c05d-4546-8788-0aa4c25a1f91 or the listing in that article at the bottom under troubleshooting steps (why this link isn't at the top near things to do first where it discusses removing all the prior and current AV programs is beyond me) or, if not on the lists, go to the website of the AV software and get and use the removal tool for that product. You cannot just uninstall these programs �?? you MUST also use the removal tool �?? even if the uninstall was years ago but you didn�??t use a removal tool at the time.

To install, go to http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/default.aspx and click on more languages and versions and then choose your language and the appropriate version for your operating system. When you download, save it to the desktop (rather than running it). When finished, uninstall and remove any remaining AV program you retained for protections during the download and then reboot.Then right click on the installation icon and click run as Administrator (even if you're logged in as an administrator) as I've found this sometimes helps.

Then you need to configure your settings, set a scheduled scan, enable real-time protection, update MSE, and then run a quick scan (or a full scan if you have time).

I also recommend the following setup for MSE (though the decision is yours - I've just found this helpful and the most effective and best way to set it up and is how I have mine configured):

Make sure that ALL threat levels are sent to Quarantine where you can then decide whether or not to allow them or leave them there, or remove them. It is the safest solution for having the most options for dealing with the situation. Quarantine is as safe as removed, but in some cases you may want to remove them to be more certain - and with this one I would remove it (when the time comes). To do this, open MSE, click on the Settings Tab, and for each of the threat levels, set the action to be Quarantine and save.

Go to the History tab and click on allowed and unless you specifically placed something in allowed, remove everything else from the allowed category. Only put things there that you ABSOLUTELY know are not problems (are "false positives") and triple-check before you do it as doing this could allow a real threat to bypass security and infect you and it won't be detected or rather won't be reported or acted upon by MSE.

Go to the Settings Tab and click on MAP and click on Advanced and save. This is not at all dangerous to you and no information sent will be used by Microsoft to identify you even if some minor identification information is sent in terms of defining the infection, but it can sometimes help with new threats by initiating an immediate update to deal with the problem if it is in the MAP database (and it helps Microsoft update definitions to provide you and everyone else better protection).

Go to the Settings Tab and click on Advanced and check the box for save Quarantine items and change it from one month to three months so you have more time to decide if you want to restore something.

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If that doesn't help, then there's a good chance you may be infected by malware. Please proceed as follows:

First, try the following programs if you haven't as they may help. I recommend you download, install, update, and run full scans with Malwarebytes:http://www.malwarebytes.org/ and SuperAntiSpyware:http://superantispyware.com/ and then run a full ESET online scan: http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner. This may or may not remove the infections, but will probably not repair any damage caused by them.

Properly and completely removing such infections can be complex and often require manual removal procedures (which may or may not be entirely effective either).

Start here - https://support.microsoftsecurityessentials.com/and select the link that says - I think mycomputer is infected. Options will vary by region, but phone support leads you to Microsoft Answer Desk (http://www.answerdesk.com/) in the US at this time. After an initial free consultation, a fee will be charged for assistance, based on the details of the case.

You can start here: https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com/ (which will also lead to the paid support options if you are in the US)

In other regions not served by the link above, go here: http://Support.microsoft.com/securityand go to the assisted support or contact us menu.

If the above is too expensive and you'd like some free options (though they can take days or a week or so before getting a response and then more days going back and forth in a forum environment - and though the quality of help you get is generally good, the level of expertise of the person assigned to your case is pretty much the luck of the draw - but that's the "price" of free options), here are some free malware-removal forums:

http://discussions.virtualdr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=71

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup

http://www.daniweb.com/hardware-and-software/microsoft-windows/viruses-spyware-and-other-nasties/64

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum79.html

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/forum/118-security/

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If malware was found and removed, then you need to again uninstall and re-install MSE as it will never work properly if installed on an infected system (which we didn�??t know at the time).

Hopefully, one of these solutions (or a step in one of these answers) will resolve the problem. If not, then open a support case describing the problem starting at:https://support.microsoftsecurityessentials.com/.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Kosh