Run schedule MS Essentials from sleep mode?

[BomberAF]

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.

 

[Barman58]

Have a look at this here ....

Scan For Viruses or Update Microsoft Security Essentials Using the MpCmdRun Command Line Utility — MAXIMUMpcguides – Windows 7 tips, tricks, help, and how-to guides

It should allow you to write a scheduled task to wake the PC and run a scan without the need for two tasks

 

[not so gray matter]

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

 

[BomberAF]

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

 

[BomberAF]

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?

 

[BomberAF]

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.

 

[Barman58]

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

The "-" is important

Also this should be run in an administrator command prompt (or with highest credentials in the case of a task)

 

[BomberAF]

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

 

[BomberAF]

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.

 

[BomberAF]

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:

 

[Barman58]

If you open MSE from the system tray what does it state is the last scan date?

if it shows the time that you ran the batch file then all is working, the update not needed is due i assume to the fact that you have the latest update already loaded.

If you have your defaults set in the MSE application to update definitions before scan then there is no need to add the signatureupdate parameter as this is as you say automatically included

As for the actual task I would enter a single line of code rather than use a batch file (just enter "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials\MpCmdRun.exe -Scan -2", set to Highest credentials and trigger at the time you wish with wake the computer to perform this task set also

 

[BomberAF]

It does actually appear to have scanned, but the program didn't appear to have started.

Another problem is that the PC will not stay away while the scan is scanning, shouldn't the actual program open properly?

 

[BomberAF]

As for the actual task I would enter a single line of code rather than use a batch file (just enter "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials\MpCmdRun.exe -Scan -2", set to Highest credentials and trigger at the time you wish with wake the computer to perform this task set also

How do I do this ^^^ and will it stop the PC from going back to sleep?

 

[BomberAF]

Whe I type in what you say type it doesn't do anything try typing it in yourself

 

[Barman58]

The command line program does not invoke the GUI control centre, but you should be able to see it running in the task manager.

As for the PC not staying awake there is a timer setting in the registry that sets how long a system will stay awake without any user action before resuming sleep, this may be set to short in your system. I have looked fro this but cannot find it at the moment, will post back if and when I can find it

 

[BomberAF]

Where is the .exe file located so that I can use it to create a schedule? And when you say that the prgram should be visible in the task manager the only thing that is visible is the .exe file, is that what your talking about?

 

[Barman58]

The EXE is at "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials" so this can be set as the run in folder in the task and the "-Scan -2" as parameters.

As for the task manager the Exe is the entry that will show

 

[BomberAF]

The EXE is at "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials" so this can be set as the run in folder in the task and the "-Scan -2" as parameters.

As for the task manager the Exe is the entry that will show

I have looked in the MS Essentials folder and there is no exe file there.

 

[Barman58]

That is strange - it's there on all the systems I've checked that run MSE - Maybe you would be best re-installing MSE and checking again It may have been deleted for some reason

Have attached a copy from the latest version of MSE though a re-install would be better