Microsoft System Sweeper

Bonni24 said:

As I posted in post #3 the program didn't run on my PC. It stopped with an error message after installing the necessary Windows files.
Is the possible reason for this behaviour that I'm running a German Windows version?

I haven't looked at Sweeper so it's possible the Beta doesn't support all languages yet. Just out of curiosity, is your operating system called Microsoft Fenster?

You are kidding?

Wow, I work in a school and the kids come in all the time with spyware and viruses, am always looking for something new should get a kid in before the end of the week so will try and will let you all know how it goes.

Also on a side note it is good to hear that Microsoft are going to even more ends to stop crap on windows, I find the biggest complaint from kids about windows (bar from not being Mac) are the viruses. Even though windows 7 with a virus scanner and defender has improved things greatly there are still major issues and all of there work helps.

I had the same problem with a Dell Optiplex 745, other 745's worked fine. I compared the BIOS settings and found that the 745 that set the error code had the Speedstep turned on. After turning Speedstep off... no worries program ran fine.

I noticed the mpam-fe.exe file in the root of my drive and thought that looks familiar. It appears to be the Microsoft Security Essentials definitions file. If so you my be able to just download the latest from here > Get the latest definitions - Microsoft Malware Protection Center < and just replace that one file instead of formating your thumbdrive every time you want to update it. I compared the details tab under properties to a definitions file I downloaded today and they are a perfect match. Its mpam-fe64.exe for the 64 bit version.

Layback Bear said:

Sounds like Microsoft is getting even deeper to stop the bad things from happening. If it still happens, a free tool to help you out. Yes it's in Beta, but doesn't most things start that way? I would like to thank all those who use Beta and all the testing so the rest of us get a great program.

I'd like to join in the thanking whoever tried the beta of the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Tool!

Airbot said:

I downloaded and installed the x64 on a USB drive and scanned. Worked out fine.

Although even though it says it just needs 250MB worth of space on a USB drive (which kind of implies it doesn't need to format it), it still needed to format the USB drive even though the drive was already bootable. So that was a little misleading...

I will pass your comment to support Airbot - thanks.

Britton30 said:

...Maybe I'm a little short on basic PC knowledge. When I installed the program to the USB drive, it was "F", and I chose to scan "C". When the scan ran it was scanning drive "E", is this normal? Whatever drive the system boots from is considered C:\?

Britton, the drive letter of your mounted USB drive, nor the drive letter of your already installed operating might different when booting off the USB drive create by the tool.
Hope that helps.

Bonni24 said:

As I posted in post #3 the program didn't run on my PC. It stopped with an error message after installing the necessary Windows files.
Is the possible reason for this behaviour that I'm running a German Windows version?

Bonnie24, your error is not related to having run wrong configuration as Brink suggested. Since this is on beta and not fully supported yet, we'll try to have a look at it soon but I can't commit to anything.
Also, please make sure you are using the latest release of this beta, as downloaded from Microsoft's connect site.

borg6 said:

I had the same problem with a Dell Optiplex 745, other 745's worked fine. I compared the BIOS settings and found that the 745 that set the error code had the Speedstep turned on. After turning Speedstep off... no worries program ran fine.

Thanks borg6. I'll pass this bit of info to support.





Please note that this is not an official support forum for the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper tool. Solutions to issues with Microsoft products can be found here.
The information I provided in this post is relevant for version 1.0.856.0 of the tool.
I just happen to pass through this forum and providing assistance out of good will.
I'd like to thank you all for trying out Microsoft's beta release of this tool - it's greatly appreciated.
This tool's official beta page can be found at Microsoft's Connect site.

Thanks,
Guy Arad.

Brink said:

alphanumeric said:

I noticed the mpam-fe.exe file in the root of my drive and thought that looks familiar. It appears to be the Microsoft Security Essentials definitions file. If so you my be able to just download the latest from here > Get the latest definitions - Microsoft Malware Protection Center < and just replace that one file instead of formating your thumbdrive every time you want to update it. I compared the details tab under properties to a definitions file I downloaded today and they are a perfect match. Its mpam-fe64.exe for the 64 bit version.

Nice find Kerry.

In addition though...


When running the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Tool again on the same USB flash drive, if the following conditions below are met, the tool will only download definitions (approx. 60MB) and update the USB drive without reformatting it.

The USB flash drive has Standalone System Sweeper previously installed on it.
The Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Tool version that was used to create the bootable USB flash drive the first run is the same as being used for the second run.
Files on the USB flash drive are not damaged or missing (the tool will verify that).

I have to admit, I just downloaded it to play with and didn't read though all the documentation. I also downloaded the latest versions for the Safety Scanner, Malicious Software Removal Tool, and MSE definitions, at the same time. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have noticed the mpam-fe file. I was thinking it would be kind of hard on your flash drive if it formated it every time you updated it. Looks like Microsoft thought of that too,