Solved If you didn't install Microsoft Security Essentials Do you have this

[bigg123]

If you didn't install Microsoft Security Essentials Do you have this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender

Cause I have this as a leftover after I uninstalled MSE and don't know if it was there before.

 

[Brady A]

Windows defender comes with any Windows operating system.

 

[bigg123]

Windows defender comes with any Windows operating system.

So every W7 machine has the Windows Defender Key regardless of MSE installed?

 

[Brink]

Hello Big123,

Yes, that is correct.

When you install MSE, it only turns off Windows Defender and sets MSE to be the default program instead.

 

[whs]

The MSE and Defender processes are the same (MsMpEng.exe - if I remember right). When you uninstall MSE, it defaults to Defender. Nothing to worry about.

Hmm, Shawn beat me to it - LOL.

 

[bigg123]

The MSE and Defender processes are the same (MsMpEng.exe - if I remember right). When you uninstall MSE, it defaults to Defender. Nothing to worry about.

Hmm, Shawn beat me to it - LOL.

Your right about it reverting back to Defender. But no it doesn't use the memory hogging process, (MsMpEng.exe).

 

[bigg123]

Windows defender comes with any Windows operating system.

Thanks for reminding me of that! I forgot about that!

 

[whs]

The MSE and Defender processes are the same (MsMpEng.exe - if I remember right). When you uninstall MSE, it defaults to Defender. Nothing to worry about.

Hmm, Shawn beat me to it - LOL.

Your right about it reverting back to Defender. But no it doesn't use the memory hogging process, (MsMpEng.exe).

The msmpeng.exe process is used by the Microsoft Windows Defender to perform spyware scanning procedure

Source: http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/msmpeng/