Windows 7: Microsoft Security Essentials Scheduled Scans

I recently posted a Thread where we discussed in depth the use of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware along with other Anti-virus Software such as Nortons Security Suite or Microsoft Security Essentials... I started the discussion because I bought my 15 year-old son his very first computer which is a Dell Netbook with Windows 7 installed (32-bit), and I was setting it up for him with the proper Anti-virus/Anti-Malware protection... I decided to install MSE along with MBAM, and we went through just about EVERY setting possible on each in the discussion... the discussion was extremely helpful...



I'm posting this discussion now because I noticed that the Scheduled Scan for MSE did not perform when set... Under the Settings Tab > Scheduled scan here are the settings:

Run a scheduled scan on my computer (Option checked), Scan type: Full Scan, When: Sunday, Around: 1:00 PM, Check for the latest virus and spyware definitions before running a scheduled scan (Option checked), Start the Scheduled scan only when my computer is on but not in use (Option unchecked), Limit CPU usage during scan to: 50% (Option checked).

In my last thread discussion, we EVEN went through the proper Windows 7 Settings in the Tasks Manger which will wake a sleeping computer, since this is not a default setting in Windows... the exact process to do this is located in an online article Here... I'm mentioning this here to eliminate any question whether or not a sleeping computer might be the issue...

The computer was never even turned on at any time on Sunday (yesterday) when the scheduled scan was to take place at 1:00pm, but I did turn the computer on this morning about an hour ago (10:15am EST)... once the computer booted up, was connected to the Internet, and new definition updates were installed, I expected MSE to perform the scheduled full system scan since the scheduled time was never performed the day prior, because the computer was never even booted up yesterday... Just like other software I have used, I expected the scan would just be delayed to the next time the computer was in use... this never happened, and I have no reason why it did not...

If anyone could shed some light on why they think the scan did not perform, it would be greatly appreciated... thank you.

Hi, fullgrownnut.

First point, before I forget, with a 15 year-old, I strongly recommend that the scheduled scan be set for daily. I am a very "safe surfer", yet still have MSE set for a daily scan. I suggest that you set the time for the scan when the computer is most likely to be running.

The computer cannot turn itself on so, as you know, if shut down at the time something is scheduled to run, it won't happen. I recall reading somewhere (but cannot find the link) that MSE will do the missed scheduled scan at after the next automatic update.

That is correct Corrine. I had a similar question in the Vista forum. The computer owner complained that MSE was not making the scheduled scan. Research indicated that it will not scan when off or when in sleep mode. It will perform the scan at the next scheduled time.

Thanks for the confirmation, richc46. I hope fullgrownnut changes the scan schedule to daily for his son's computer. A quick scan should be fine since it is a new computer.

Just an idea. Would this not be a fine time to teach the young user things about security. How to do manual updates and scans in the background. Why one should do them and the do's and don'ts when on line. Why things like memory sticks and C/D should be scanned when a friend gives you one. What a torrent can do to your computer, ect.

   Quote: Originally Posted by Corrine

Hi, fullgrownnut.

First point, before I forget, with a 15 year-old, I strongly recommend that the scheduled scan be set for daily. I am a very "safe surfer", yet still have MSE set for a daily scan. I suggest that you set the time for the scan when the computer is most likely to be running.

Thanks Corrine, I was thinking about scheduling a daily scan, but since you can only do one type of scheduled scan at a time, when it performs one, I prefer it to do a full system scan... I think a full system scan every single day would be a little extreme, and especially the load on the resources while he's using the computer, even though I have it set at 50% CPU usage...

I would prefer to schedule a Quick scan if it's every day... I think what I might do is just that, and then set a reminder in my own computer's calendar once per month to give him a call and walk him through doing a manual full system scan (he doesn't live here with me, so that's why I really would prefer things running by themselves)... come to think of it, I have G-bridge installed in his pc, so once I get him on the phone, and his computer online, I'll be able to access his desktop from mine and do it... then eventually, I'll just have him do it after he watches me do it remotely a couple of times...

Yes, I totally understand that, but MOST programs that have some kind of a scheduled task, usually perform it the next time the computer is turned on if it wasn't on when it was scheduled to perform it, so I just assumed MSE did the same thing...

And maybe you're right about MSE performing after the next automatic update... I'll try to do some research on that to confirm it... I hope that's true, then that would solve this mystery.... Lol... I'll definitely let you know if I do find that information... thanks for your input, it was helpful

Hi again Rich... so you're saying that if the computer is not on AT the time that the scan is scheduled for, it will just not perform it UNTIL next time??... so if you have a full system scan scheduled once per week, it will have to wait an entire week to perform it again??... that just doesn't make any sense because what happens if the computer isn't on again at the scheduled time; you'll miss an entire week again??... Lol... wow, I just don't think that Microsoft would overlook something like this, but maybe I'm wrong since it's a free program, and they figure that since it's free, someone can just do it manually if the scheduled scan is missed... but don't you think that they would integrate an informational disclaimer to pop up or whatever, to let users know about missed scheduled scans, instead of a big guessing game??...

You know, while I was in the middle of replying to you here, I stopped and did some more research, and I found A LOT of threads in other discussion boards about this same issue, and several people have recommended people who are concerned about this problem to install AVAST instead... I've never used that program myself (I've been a Nortons user for years), but I figured what could be better for a free program to protect his Windows 7 computer than a Microsoft product that has gotten some pretty good reviews... from what I'm reading by other Windows users, it's the best free anti-virus out there (also better than AVG)... do you recommend using AVAST over MSE?...

Keep in mind that he's got the Malwarebytes Pro version in there too, so that's pretty good protection all in itself... I'm NOT saying that MSE is not good protection, I'm just a little concerned about the way it handles missed scheduled scans... that's my ONLY beef at this point about it... and again, from what I'm reading, AVAST doesn't have an issue with scheduled scans if your computer is off, and will perform them the next time the computer is turned on... well, thanks for your help once again

   Quote: Originally Posted by Layback Bear

Just an idea. Would this not be a fine time to teach the young user things about security. How to do manual updates and scans in the background. Why one should do them and the do's and don'ts when on line. Why things like memory sticks and C/D should be scanned when a friend gives you one. What a torrent can do to your computer, ect.

Thanks Layback... that's a good point, but just because I want the program to perform a scheduled scan when it's supposed to does NOT mean that I'm STILL not going to teach him the importance of Internet security with his own computer...

I've filled him on this subject already many times with my own computer, and have also taught him about the threats of downloading Torrents and using sites such as Limewire to download music...

Limewire is probably the biggest No-No out there if you want to mess up a computer... unfortunately, it's very popular with a lot of young teenagers online to get free music... I've heard countless horror stories about how kids have ruined their parents' computers by downloading music on that site... So, I PLAN on telling him straight-out that if I EVER catch him going on that site even once, the computer is being taken away from him for a good amount of time...

But YES, I agree with you 100% on teaching kids ALL of these important concepts of taking care of a computer... thanks for your input

If you go to change my scan schedule, is the box checked that says Start scan only when on but not in use?
The only thing I can tell you is that how it works for me and for the member that I was helping in Vista. Research indicated that it will not run if in sleep mode.

Hello Rich... no, that box is unchecked, which means that the scan is supposed to run whether the computer is in use or not (that's why I have the CPU usage set to 50%)...

And regarding the Sleep Mode issue, someone in my other thread posted this Link which addresses how to go into your Windows Task scheduling settings to make sure the scan will work for MSE even during Sleep mode (the answer is toward the bottom of that page for Vista and Windows 7)... I followed those directions step by step, and have my son's settings set like that also, so even if it's in Sleep mode now, the computer should wake up to perform the scheduled scan.