MSE corrupted

Jacee said:

MSE won't run unless you have a legal OS ... if your OS is legal, then you might need to call Microsoft to get your key validated.

My OS is legal, I think this is just a file corruption issue.

My MSE lost track of at least one of its files, msse.msi, which is its installer, and it cannot update its definitions (possibly caused by a second, different file missing/corrupted).

PS... Restore got my internet back. Yay! Now if I need to do a clean install, at least I can put it off until the weekend. Whew!

Caveat said:

Take a look here Fix MSE Utility - Repair Microsoft Security Essentials | The Windows Club

I had high hopes for that, but it didn't help. I guess resetting to default settings doesn't help when a file is missing or corrupt. I'll see if I can find msse.msi somewhere in my backups.

Uber Philf said:

It won't be a direct file you just find lying around, you have to run the MSE .exe installer, and it wil extract into your temp files, then run from your temp files to install MSE.

I found the file in my backup, and copied it to my desktop. The uninstall ran a bit more, but it stalled again, looking for a second file, "mp_ambits_msi". So I scurried back to the backup and copied that file to desktop. The uninstall charged forward like a champ until it hit the final step, and it gave me this message:

So I rebooted... and it looks like MSE is gone! No desktop icon, not listed in "programs"...

I think your idea worked!

Uber Philf said:

Bahahaha, go me

Are you planning to reinstall it?

Or changing due to the hair loss because you ripped it all out trying to get rid of it?

:)

I'd like to install it again, but it won't install. I downloaded a brand new MSE installer, but when I try to run it, it can't find its one of its own files!

That is one of the files it couldn't find for the uninstall, and I copied it to my desktop during the uninstall. Now the new installer is looking for the file on my desktop (because that's where it was last time?) instead of looking inside itself!

I tried the "browse" function so I could redirect the installer back to itself, but I can't find the installer on my desktop when I "browse" there!

Download and install Windows Installer Cleanup Utility from Microsoft website

Direct Link: http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...bd/msicuu2.exe

If that link is broken use this page: Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

Install it, run it from its start menu shortcut. Select MSE (or all the MSE stuff there) -> Click Remove. Done, Exit the tool. Reboot, reinstall MSE.

Rishone said:

Download and install Windows Installer Cleanup Utility from Microsoft website

Direct Link: http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...bd/msicuu2.exe

If that link is broken use this page: Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

Install it, run it from its start menu shortcut. Select MSE (or all the MSE stuff there) -> Click Remove. Done, Exit the tool. Reboot, reinstall MSE.

My Windows Installer is not working again. Something I did while uninstalling MSE broke it, so I can't install the Installer repair utility. I can install zipped files with no problem -- just extract and install -- but files that need Windows Installer to run? No go.

Its things like this that make me question MS's intelligence. Why would an Installer repair utility be dependent on the Windows Installer to install? Does anybody else see the problem there? Why not offer it in multiple forms with multiple installation options, so the people that need it can actually run it? Am I the crazy one here?