Microsoft Security Essentials and other programs stalled frequently.

Windows Defender and Windows Defender Offline are two different animals, which people find confusing because of Microsoft's silly brand naming.

Windows Defender is turned off when you install Microsoft Security Essentials.

Windows Defender Offline has taken the place of the Standalone System Sweeper and is run from boot via a CD or USB drive.

But my concern is that the Windows Defender Offline is stalling, even though it is not Windows Security Essentials.

Listen, I could do all of these scans if I have enough time. But I am busy right now and every hour wasted is bad for me.

Yep, the Windows Defender Offline is stalling for over 30 minutes.

Can I say that the thing is completely frozen, or what?

If you choose the full scan it can take up to eight hours to complete, so all you can do is turn it off or let it run.

Your choice.

Here is the deal:

I canceled the scan because it stalled for over an hour without progress. Then, I open up Microsoft Security essentials and commenced a full scan.

Sure enough, it froze on a specific file:

C:\Program Files\Motorola\Bluetooth\Drivers\Win64\btmusb.sys

every single time.

Is there something about this file that will make MSE freeze?

I don't know, but it may be worthwhile checking BT's support site to see if there are any updated drivers for your Bluetooth device.

Failing that you could uninstall the device (I take it it's a bluetooth phone?), and then see if the scan freezes.

Well, the problem with stalling Anti-Virus is gone now, along with all of the massive slowdowns.

MSE finally completed a full scan today.

I'm not sure what I did to solve the problems, but I uninstalled many programs (and games to help me focus on the exams this week), re-installed MSE a couple of times, and performed a something that was supposed to allow "Windows to check the disks for consistency" with a "DSK CHK" or something.

What was the problem that I just fixed?