MSE good protection, however

cyclic · 05 Jun 2012

Everytime it updates or scans it chamges the update behaviour to automatic.
I failed to notice yesterday and the latest update was installed on close down.
Today IE stops responding and claims there is a problem with the site, that's all of them.

Everything back to normal now after a restore to before this update yesterday.
Question.....why does MSE change my setting to tell me about updates and let me decide, to download and install automatically ?

I don't like this.

marsmimar · 05 Jun 2012

Based on what I've read and what I think I know, MSE was designed to get it’s virus database updated daily so a user’s system stays protected against any new threats. This is a default "setting" within MSE. It checks for new updates every 24 hours regardless of how Windows Updates is configured. If the computer was turned off, in hibernation, or in sleep mode when the next scheduled check for updates was supposed to be done, MSE will resume checking for updates every 15 minutes or so when the computer is turned back on. I believe this info is still valid:

MSE Definitions/Signatures Update FAQ - Microsoft Answers

I've kinda, sorta gotten around this by setting Windows Updates to "Never check for updates (not recommended)". At some point during my daily computer sessions I'll manually check for updates using the MSE dashboard because it seems like MSE gets updated 2-3 times a day during the week and twice a day on Sat & Sun. Then once a week or so I'll manually check Windows Updates for any other updates that might have been released. This is the only way I've been able to keep MSE from automatically updating because once I install an update on my time schedule, the 24 hour clock seems to start ticking again.

Of course, this is what works for me. Others may have a different take on the matter or use a different method to prevent MSE from automatically updating.

DavidE · 05 Jun 2012

MSE does not change my setting from "tell me about updates and let me decide" to automatic.

I do have a scheduled task to check for MSE definitions every 4 hours, so I don't get definition updates via Windows Update.

I do have a Daily Quick Scan scheduled in MSE Settings, that also checks for the latest definitions.

Petey7 · 05 Jun 2012

I've been usign MSE since the first beta, and have installed it on multiple computers and have never heard of this issue. I have always had my computers set to check for updates and let me choose when to download and install them. I also have MSE set to check for updates before running a scheculed scan. It always updates itself as expected, and I've never had it change my Windows update settings. Ever. Unfortunately, I do not know how to solve your issue. I just wanted to confirm that your issue is not the norm.

You could try uninstalling MSE, installing the newest version, going to settings and untick the box next to "Start the scheduled scan only when my PC is on but not in use" and set it to do a quick scan daily. Leave all other settings the same. That will give you the exact same setup I have with it. Also, make sure the computer is on when it is supposed to do the scheduled scan. If that does not solve the issue, than I would assume the problem is not MSE.

cyclic · 05 Jun 2012

Thank you for your interest gentleman,
Marsimar, I always let it check automatically (update that is) but I have fallen foul of it before so don't let IT decide what updates I want.- your input as ever always appreciated.

DavidW7ncus, Fanks for that, it confirms that what I do (albeit once daily) is fairly usual. But my settings get changed- ok I'm not anally rententive, but I sort of object to my chosen settings being altered.

Petey7 I hear you and I know you are spot on, I have done exactly what you advise and there is no change. I too have sort of assumed there must be another factor, but when leaving MSE uninstalled for a few days, inadviseable I know but I'm fairly au fait ( see what I did there ), however using Sherlocks statement, whatever is left no matter how unlikely must be the answer I can't find anything else for it.

BTW Thanks to Karlsnooks, were it not for his very good and continuing advice to others I would never have tried it.

Thank you for posting- it's really not much of an issue, I just don't like puzzles that I cannot solve !

:)

cyclic · 06 Jun 2012

So the plot thickens, today IE kept faulting and closing on me. Did a SFC no change, tried to restore but needed a disk check, so I did one. Took about 3 hours, still couldn't fix things.
Finally restored Macrium image from last week, ok now. But after the amount of corruption found, I am thinking my SSD might be flakey.

Petey7 · 06 Jun 2012

What did SFC say? its usually recommended to run it three times unless it says no issues found. If after three times it says it couldn't fix all issues found, do a repair install. I'm not aware of any diagnostic tools for SSDs, but I would check the OCZ site.

cyclic · 06 Jun 2012

Petey7 said:

it couldn't fix all issues found, do a repair install. I'm not aware of any diagnostic tools for SSDs, but I would check the OCZ site.

Done that going to OCZ now, thanks.