Microsoft Security Essentials Updates but gives 0x80072f8f message

Good afternoon,

 

Recently when updating MSE in W7 Pro (I can't afford an update) the program updates to near the end and the a window appears advising that the site could not be reached and gives the failure code of  0x80072f8f. When this notification is cancelled the update loads correctly.  A check in the updates shows MSE has updated as does the information in MSE.  However the automatic update function no longer appears present.

 

I used System Restore to before the problem became apparent to no avail.

 

I have tried the advice give by Microsoft at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/troubleshooting-update-issues-for-microsoft-security-essentials-859d3fc8-b920-77f5-7d14-6d9e0c4ceaaf to no avail but have found that when I attempt the final solution at Step 5 an unput of the given term "Cd program files\microsoft security essentials" produces the result that the path cannot be found.

 

I have run Malwarebytes, ESET online scanner and Housecall and found 5 x PUPs but nothing else.

 

Please can anyone provide a solution to the problem?

Windows 7 pro 64 bit here, getting same error in my scan

 

Error: (07/17/2023 02:21:30 PM) (Source: Microsoft Antimalware) (EventID: 2001) (User: )
Description: Microsoft Antimalware has encountered an error trying to update signatures.

    New Signature Version:

    Previous Signature Version: 119.0.0.0

    Update Source: Microsoft Malware Protection Center

    Update Stage: Search

    Source Path: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=260974&clcid=0x409&NRI=true&arch=x64&eng=2.1.14600.4&sig=119.0.0.0&prod=EDB4FA23-53B8-4AFA-8C5D-99752CCA7094

    Signature Type: Network Inspection System

    Update Type: Full

    User: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE

    Current Engine Version:

    Previous Engine Version: 2.1.14600.4

    Error code: 0x80072f8f

    Error description: A security error occurred

 

Then

==================== Security Center ========================

(If an entry is included in the fixlist, it will be removed.)

AV: Microsoft Security Essentials (Enabled - Up to date) {71A27EC9-3DA6-45FC-60A7-004F623C6189}
AS: Microsoft Security Essentials (Enabled - Up to date) {CAC39F2D-1B9C-4A72-5A17-3B3D19BB2B34}

 

I don't know what to make of the error...

 

Addition to my original post.

I have just discovered that if I update MSE using the Windows update panel (Control Panel/All Control Panel Items/Windows Update) the process works without any error report.

All a bit odd.

Edited by johndrew, 19 July 2023 - 09:38 AM.

Hi John,

 

the FREE update to W10 is still available, as far as i know

 

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/139745-upgrade-windows-10-windows-7-free.html

Edited by Torchwood, 19 July 2023 - 11:52 AM.

Hello Torchwood,

The major problem I have in upgrading free or otherwise is that my PC is only just good enough for W7 and would, most likely, need to be substantially upgraded in memory, HDD and possibly graphics card. Makes it an expensive experience for me.

Many thanks for the suggestion though.

Hello Torchwood,

The major problem I have in upgrading free or otherwise is that my PC is only just good enough for W7 and would, most likely, need to be substantially upgraded in memory, HDD and possibly graphics card. Makes it an expensive experience for me.

Many thanks for the suggestion though.

Download and install Speccy - https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy

Run it, and then go to File and Publish Snapshot. Post the resulting link in your next reply

Hi

 

when you post the Speccy results, i'll be able to tell how W10 will run.....  my old ex Vista 4gb machine runs it no problem

I have just discovered that if I update MSE using the Windows update panel (Control Panel/All Control Panel Items/Windows Update) the process works without any error report.All a bit odd.

Very odd especially when:

 

Once Windows 7 reaches end-of-support (EOS) on January 14, 2020, Microsoft will also stop updating Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) for Windows 7.

Companies who purchase Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) will not receive special treatment, and they'll have to switch their antivirus app.

 Once Windows 7 reaches end-of-support (EOS) on January 14, 2020, Microsoft will also stop updating Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) for Windows 7.

The last thing Microsoft said was, we will continue to provide signature updates for Microsoft Security Essentials until 2023:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-is-microsoft-security-essentials-c25ad47a-7d15-8072-1438-b07dffcbbb20

Obviously this IS 2023, and the year is more than half over, so the future is not promising for MSE users; but no further information is available. (The same article incorrectly stated that MSE is no longer available as a download. I just searched for download microsoft security essentials from official and it is still there as of today.)

Error 0x80072f8f is sometimes caused by incorrect date and time.

MSE is not the only antivirus that could be used on Windows 7, although certain AV makers have already ended support for it.

One thing I dislike about this forum is that any question pertaining to an old OS is answered by suggesting a new OS. If either the OP or zep516 decides to attempt an in-place upgrade from Windows 7 to 10, please uninstall MSE first! MSE is not an integral part of Windows 7: It is an installed program that is neither supported nor needed on Windows 10 (which has an integral antivirus). I have heard that removing MSE from Windows 10 post-upgrade is not easy, so uninstall it before upgrading.

I did an in place upgrade of windows 7 to windows 10 while having MSE installed and had no issues with going to windows 10 with windows defender. I did this on 4 machines.

Edited by cryptodan, 20 July 2023 - 04:05 PM.

Regarding the question that was actually asked: There is a recent thread at SevenForums. It sounds to me like there was an issue at Microsofts end.

https://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/428578-mse-totally-down-end-support-windows-7-a.html

There still is an issue regardless of whether it is with Microsoft or some malware in the community. The posts shown within your link all give the same elements that I originally posted with and still have. It would be nice to know if it is Microsoft walking away from W7 and MSE totally as it would give a chance to find alternative AV software. But the fact updates are still being provided and can be installed indicates, at least to me, that it could be something within the community that is causing the problem.

I have windows 7 pro also and experienced the exact same thing. However, my MSE updates fine every day on its own. It is only when I try to update manually that I have the problem. I was used to manually updating and running a scan daily, as part of keeping an older computer in working order. Now I just check that I have the lastest definitions and then do a scan.

 

I will add that as a result of this strange phenomenon I installed Avast Free antivirus.  I sometimes alternate between the two antivirus programs---stopping the shields in one while I run the other. What I like about Avast is the boot-time scan. I actually came here for another problem, so I will post that in a new thread. Nice to see some other Windows 7 users are still around. Not sure what I will do when 7 truly stops antivirus support. Might possibly leave Windows altogether.

This probably IS a good time to try another antivirus, but having Avast and MSE both installed is not advisable. Of the two, MSE should be easiest to uninstall. I have used both in the past (not a very recent version of Avast, but the MSE 4.10 client has actually been around since November 2016) - just not at the same time!

The last thing Microsoft said was, we will continue to provide signature updates for Microsoft Security Essentials until 2023:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/what-is-microsoft-security-essentials-c25ad47a-7d15-8072-1438-b07dffcbbb20

It looks like signature updates are still being provided in January 2024, so Happy New Year!

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=Microsoft%20security%20essentials