Run schedule MS Essentials from sleep mode?

I am trying to create a schedule task for MS essentials which will wake my PC at 4 am and then perform a scan once a week.

I have set a schedule for MS Essentials to run at 4 am and I have gone into the task scheduler and I have got one of the system tasks to wake the PC at 03.59 so that MS Essentials can then start at 4.00am. The thing is though it wont work, I have set up Norton ghost to run at 7.00am and I have used the syncronized time to wake up at 06.59 and Norton Ghost runs, but for MS Essentials it would start.

Can you help me out.

I had the PC to stay away for 3 minutes but I will try and write a task as that looks the better option.

notsograymatter said:

Have you tried increasing the time to 5 minutes? It could be that MS's clock is off or something. If that doesn't work, you could always write a script to execute a shortcut/command which will start a MSE scan.

Here's a tutorial on the command line version of MSE.

Keep in mind, you'll need to write a batch file (.bat) that opens the program and starts the scan. Here's some tips:

Create a .txt file and save it as all files with anyname and the extension .bat (i.e. msescan.bat)

Add the following lines

cd "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Security Essentials\"
MpCmdRun.exe -scan [0,1,2]

Use either 0, 1, or 2 without the brackets. 0 is your default scan, 1 is a quick scan and 2 is a full scan.

Save the file and execute it when you wake your computer.

You can also add the extension -SignatureUpdate if you want MSE to update itself.

i.e.

...
MpCmdRun.exe -SignatureUpdate -scan 0

I have tried to use both the links for the tutorials but not had much luck. When you say you can add the extension to update before the scan do you just add it to the next available free line?

And can you explain a bit more how to create the .exe file, when I try to type what it says in the tutorial that you have provided it says that it cant be found.

Where do I also save the .bat file too?

I have created a .bat file and saved it to my desktop, this is how it looks:

cd "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Security Essentials\"
MpCmdRun.exe -SignatureUpdate -scan 2

When I double click on it the cmd window opens then it doesn'tdo anything.

This is what i am getting when create the batch file, if I get the same result if it type -scan as I would if typed -signatureUpdate

Barman58 said:

Have just checked the actual syntax which is MpCmdRun.exe -Scan -2

The "-" is important

Yeah I got it working in the end but if you look at my screen dump you will see what problems I am now having.

EDIT: Yes I done it in Admin mode.

Look here is what I get if i just try to run the scan, as you will see it's the exact same as if I tried to update the data base: