Windows 10: Microsoft Essentials Virus and Spyware Definitions fails to update - says "Connection...

Tried all of the following, wondering what to do.----------------------------

Step 1: Reset your Internet Explorer settings

1. Exit all open programs, including Internet Explorer.

Note

Resetting these settings in Internet Explorer deletes your temporary files, cookies, browsing history, and your online passwords. But, your favorites won’t be deleted.

1. Click Start, and in the Start Search box, type inetcpl.cpl, and then press Enter.
2. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
3. Under the Reset Internet Explorer settings, click Reset, and then click Reset again.
4. Wait until Internet Explorer finishes resetting the settings, and then click OK.
5. Open Internet Explorer.
6. Open Microsoft Security Essentials, click the Update tab, and then click Update. If the issue persists, go on to the next step.

Step 2: Set Internet Explorer as the default browser

1. Exit all open programs, including Internet Explorer.
2. Click Start, and in the Start Search box, type inetcpl.cpl, and then press Enter.
3. In the Internet Options dialog box, click the Programs tab.
4. Under Default Web browser, click Make default. Click OK.
5. Open Microsoft Security Essentials. Click the Update tab, and then click Update. If the issue persists, go on to the next step.

Step 3: Ensure that the date and time are set correctly on your PC

1. Open Microsoft Security Essentials.
2. If the error message that you received contains the code 0x80072f8f, the problem is most likely caused by an incorrect date or time setting on your PC.
3. To reset your PC's date or time setting, follow the steps in Fix broken desktop shortcuts and common system maintenance tasks.

Step 4: Rename the Software Distribution folder on your PC

1. Stop the Automatic Updates service
   1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
   2. Right-click the Automatic Updates service, and then click Stop.
   3. Minimize the Services snap-in.
2. If the error message that you received contains the code 0x80072f8f, the problem is most likely caused by an incorrect date or time setting on your PC.
3. Rename the SoftwareDistribution directory as follows:
   1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
   2. Type cd %windir%, and then press Enter.
   3. Type ren SoftwareDistribution SDTemp, and then press Enter.
   4. Type exit, and then press Enter.
4. Start the Automatic Updates service as follows:
   1. Maximize the Services snap-in.
   2. Right-click Automatic Updates service, and then click Start.
   3. Close the Services snap-in window.

Step 5: Reset the Microsoft antivirus update engine on your PC

1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then right-click Command Prompt, and then select Run as administrator.
2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands and press Enter after each command:
   • Cd\
   • Cd program files\microsoft security essentials
   • Mpcmdrun –removedefinitions –all
   • Exit
3. Restart your PC.
4. Open Microsoft Security Essentials, click the Update tab, and then click Update. If the issue persists, go on to the next step.

Step 6: Manually install the virus and spyware definition updates

• If you're running a 32-bit Windows operating system, download the latest updates manually at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=87342.
• If you're running a 64-bit Windows operating system, download the latest updates manually at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=87341.

Click Run. The latest updates are manually installed on your PC.



Step 7: Contact support

If the steps did not resolve the issue, contact support. For more information, see Customer Support.

:)

 

Virus and spyware definitions

I have notification that the virus and spyware definitions are out of date. When I click to update it goes through the motions and looks ok but at the end it says connection has failed

 

Virus and spyware definitions couldn't be updated.

Hi Ogunmola,

There are several possible reasons why you are unable to update your virus and spyware definitions in Windows 10. The most common cause is internet connectivity. If you are online, it can be caused by conflicts with the settings in Windows Internet Explorer.

For us to better assist you with this concern, we need to ask a few questions:

• Were there any changes made prior to this issue?
• Are there issues with the internet connection?
• Are you getting any error messages? Can you send a screenshot?
• What troubleshooting steps have you tried so far?
  

For steps to help resolve this issue with updating the virus and spyware definitions, you can refer to
Giridhar J's post on this
link.

Looking forward to your reply.

Thank you.

 

Error: Connection Failed while installing virus & spyware definition update

My internet connection is just fine but I'm getting this error msg 'connection failed', and not able to complete updating Virus & spyware definition. Plz help=)

<Original Title: Virus & Spyware update>