Install Microsoft Security Essentials

Content

Tip: keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F searches in the page contents

Install Microsoft Security Essentials

In this tutorial: How to download and install Microsoft Security Essentials in Windows XP, Vista or 7

Last modified: 2012-04-25 14:23:05 EEST

Microsoft's own free anti-virus software - Microsoft Security Essentials - is easily understandable and does not require much configuration. This is a replacement for Windows Defender, adding anti-virus and network protection functionality. Scanning network traffic is available for Windows Vista and 7 only, though - the required Windows Filtering Platform is not available in Windows XP.

Microsoft Security Essentials is available for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, both for 32-bit and 64-bit editions. The latest version, 4, was released in April, 2012. Windows 8 has a special, much improved version of Windows Defender that provides real-time protection just like Microsoft Security Essentials. There is no point in installing Security Essentials on Windows 8 (and you can't do that anyway).

Because Microsoft Security Essentials replaces Windows Defender, the latter is not allowed to start anymore. In case you see error messages about Windows Defender at startup, move here to resolve this issue.

If you have some other anti-virus program installed, remove it first!

Because running more than one anti-virus program at the same time makes your computer slow, it is very important to first uninstall the currently present one. If you do not have an anti-virus program installed, move down here.

Click to show or hide uninstall instructions for Windows XP

In Windows XP, click the Start button or press Windows Key on your keyboard and choose Control Panel.

Click Add or Remove Programs. First picture is for users of Control Panel in Category View, the second one for users of Control Panel in Classic View.

Find your current anti-virus program, click on its name and then click Change/Remove or Remove button (button name depends on the program). Then follow the uninstall wizard to remove the program. You probably have to restart your computer after this. You will also see Security Center's red shield icon in Taskbar Notification area, this is normal because you have temporarily no antivirus program installed.
Now move down to downloading part.

Click to show or hide uninstall instructions for Windows Vista and 7

In Windows Vista and 7, click Start button or press Windows Key on your keyboard to open Start menu. Then type "remove" into Start menu Search box and click Add or remove programs.

Find the anti-virus program you want to remove, right-click on it and then click Uninstall or Uninstall/Change (depending on the options the program provides). Then follow the uninstall wizard to remove the program. You probably have to restart your computer after this. You will also see Action Center flag icon with red cross in Taskbar Notification area, this is normal because you have temporarily no antivirus program installed.

Downloading and installing Microsoft Security Essentials

Open Microsoft Security Essentials home page and click the Free* download button.
If Windows version is not detected, you'll have the Select your version combo box. Choose the correct version of Windows (32- or 64-bit) and then click the Free* download button.

After downloading and launching the setup file, Microsoft Security Essentials Installation Wizard starts, click Next.

License Terms page opens, click I accept.
Microsoft Security Essentials Installation Wizard - License Terms. Click I accept.

If you are very-very concerned about your privacy, do not join Customer Experience Improvement Program. Choose I do not want to join the program at this time and then click Next.
Microsoft Security Essentials Installation Wizard - Join the Customer Experience Improvement Program. Click "I do not want to join the program at this time". Then click Next.

Next, setup offers to optimize security by turning on Windows Firewall in case it is turned off and no other firewall program is installed and active. In most cases, you can leave the If no firewall is turned on, turn on Windows Firewall (recommended) check box selected and click Next.
Microsoft Security Essentials Installation Wizard - Optimize security. Leave the check box selecteds and then click Next.

Now setup is ready to install Microsoft Security Essentials. Click Install.

The installation part takes a little while. After it is complete, leave the Scan my computer for potential threats after getting the latest updates box checked and click Finish. This will open Microsoft Security Essentials, start an update process and then run a quick scan (around 10 minutes long).

That's it for the installation part.

Upgrading Microsoft Security Essentials

If Microsoft Security Essentials' icon remains yellow-orange for long time, it could mean that there is an upgrade to the program available. Click the icon and then click Open.
In the main window there should be a message "A new version of Microsoft Security Essentials is available. You should upgrade now". Click the big Upgrade now button.

Windows Vista and 7 users will see User Account Control popping up. Click Continue or Yes to continue with upgrade:
Windows 7, User Account Control warning about Microsoft Security Essentials. Click Yes to perform the upgrade.

Microsoft Security Essentials Upgrade Installation Wizard opens. Click Upgrade.

In the License Terms page, click I agree.
Microsoft Security Essentials Upgrade Installation Wizard, License Terms. Click I accept.

Again, if you are very concerned about your privacy, click I do not want to join the program at this time to reject the Customer Experience Improvement Program. Then click Next.
Microsoft Security Essentials Upgrade Installation Wizard, Join the Customer Experience Improvement Program. Select "I do not want to join the program at this time". Then click Next.

The upgrading might take several minutes to complete. After the new version has been installed, you will see the following screen. Click Finish.
Completing the Microsoft Security Essentials Upgrade Installation Wizard. Click Finish.

And this completes the upgrade.

Possible Windows Defender error messages after installing Microsoft Security Essentials

In some cases, Windows Defender displays an error message after starting or restarting your computer. The "Windows Defender is turned off" message can be safely ignored by clicking Close. Remember, Microsoft Security Essentials actually replaces Windows Defender and therefore the latter is not allowed to start anymore.

If you try to start the Windows Defender service manually, you'll see the "Windows Defender service on Local Computer started and then stopped" dialog. Click OK.
The Windows Defender service on Local Computer started and then stopped. Click OK.

The dialog on computer startup appears because Windows Defender service is set to start automatically. To stop the message from appearing again, follow the steps below: