MSE Update Settings

Well after many, many years of using avast! anti-virus, I've finally come to the conclusion that I do not like where they are headed and quite frankly do not trust the way they seem to be intruding upon the Windows OS by adding silly little items and menus that I declined to install in the first place.

Other standard features of Windows such as media player, Exlporer, and IE are being corrupted in the registry in order to influence the use of needless trinkets such as WebRep and needless gadgets which really only mess up the web and Windows standard train of thought process to be clear.

Anyhow. I've added MSE to this PC and have noticed that it doesn't really update like it should. Usually, I have to do a manual Windows Update (Microsoft Update now) and the definitions update is there upon doing so however, the box is not ticked as if it is not considered an important update.

Now, I'm not too keen on automatically downloading and installing updates because I'm not com pletely so trusting in the fact that they won't just install a bunch of fodder that I don't really need. It is set to do so now though. I just don't know the best alternative to ensure updates regularly to MSE.

I guess I'm wondering if there is a preferred method of setting up Windows Update after installing MSE. I don't have anything special as far as programs. Just the OS and the MSE.

I've spent considerable time deciding upon a replacement of avast! and with other security measures I've taken on this PC I think that MSE would do well to remain.

All in all, it's not bad and am especially comfortable that such third party software like avast! that has really just become fanboyish can no longer reconfigure the OS to conform to it's own bottom line.

I figure Microsoft knows how to play best with Windows so I may as well stay with it.

Really have to get a grasp on this update thing though.

Also set the scanner to run daily at 12:00 AM. 12AM came and nothing happened.

Of course, I had just run a full scan an hour prior to that so maybe thats why?

If I told it to scan at a certain time it should do that, right?

Golden said:

Hi 789,

See this very recent thread:

MSE Update question....

Regards,
Golden

I had actually read that thread prior to posting this one. That thread didn't really address my particular question unfortunately.

here is a prime example of my confusion. WU is set to automatically download and install updates and is ticked also to check via the Microsoft update that gets reconfigured once installing MSE.

So. I just now opened up WU and it reported that there were 4 optional updates. None of these updates were the definitions for MSE. Well, then I hit the back button and ran the update check manually. Of course then the definitions update ws listed but it was an "optional" update and was not ticked.

Do you see where I'm coming from now? It just doesn't make sense.

Even if I tick the box that says to give me recommended updates in the same manner as important ones ( which I then unticked because I don't want to do that either) it still doesn't list the definitions update BUT it does offer some updates that were NOT in the list when the receive recommended updated the same way I receive important updates is unticked.

As it is now, MSE reports a definitions file dated for the 14th. There is an update available today, the 15th, after discovering it through a manual WU even though it's set to do download and install updates automatically but failed to do so.

I don't know. I think somethings screwy with WU.

Golden said:

Hi 789,

From what I understand, MSE updates are picked up from within MSE, and not WU. I have seen MSE get updates, when there weren't any updates (critical or optional) in WU at all.

Does that make sense?

Regards,
Golden

Well, I never did manually do an update through windows update just to see if MSE would do it by itself and it appears that after reviewing the definitions status through the gui of MSE that it did indeed update itself while I was out and about at around 9:00 PM. Also when I saw that, I also did a manual windows update check and it didn't show the previous update that was unticked that I had mentioned for the 15th.

So, MSE did actually update itself without windows update.

It's still screwy if you ask me though. I think they just want to feed me updates for other Microsoft software and maybe they are using MSE to change the windows update setting to do just that.

Whatever....

So, the issue appears to be understood by me now. solved as well in this particular regard.

But still screwy

On a side note, wasn't IE9 supposed to be introduced through WU on the 14th? I haven't seen hide nor hair of it yet by means of WU/Microsoft Update....

Here is my setup:

WU set to Check for important updates, but let me choose when to install them.

WU "give me recommended updates in the same way as important updates" is NOT checked.

I generally go to WU monthly or so for general purposes and hand pick which updates I want, but NEVER get my MSE updates while at the WU website.

MSE set to run a scheduled scan once a week.

MSE set to check for the latest definitions before running a scheduled scan

Under these settings, this is what happens:

MSE gets updates automatically every 24 to 48 hours, with NO input from me.

I always let MSE retrieve the updated definitions at its own chosen speed. I NEVER manually ask for them.

About every 2 weeks, I get a warning in my sys tray about a lack of scans, so I poke the scan button to get back to green status. This is true despite the fact that I have a weekly auto scan scheduled. I don't think that is happening.

At one time, MSE got quite confused. I uninstalled it with Revo and then reinstalled. The confusion disappeared.

I'm generally satisfied. It isn't perfect, but seems to protect me fine. Earlier versions did NOT complain about not having scanned. I don't care about doing scans, but am willing to do one manually every couple of weeks to keep the peace.