MSE Update Utility [AddictiveTips Apps]

By AddictiveTips Team on Nov 16 2009 54 Comments

MSE-Update-Utility-[AddictiveTips-Apps]

MSE Update Utility is a simple app that updates Microsoft Security Essentials when Windows Update is disabled. Windows Update service is responsible for frequently updating MSE. But once it is disabled via Group Policy Editor, MSE won’t update anymore.

Microsoft’s idea for merging the MSE update with Windows Update is perhaps the biggest downside of MSE and the only workaround until today was to manually grab the latest virus definitions. Since MSE virus definitions are updated almost daily, the manual route was quite tiresome. This is where MSE Update Utility comes in.

From the main window you can select the update intervals, there are four options given – Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Startup. I would recommend going for either Daily or on Startup.

MSE Update Utility

Updating the virus definitions during startup is the best way to keep the system secure. It will automatically update the definitions and notify you when they are complete.

MSE Updating

By default it is checked to run on startup, you can always uncheck this option later. MSE Update Utility is not for everyone, but if you fall in any one of the category below then it will come surely handy:

  • Users in corporate office environment where the network administrators have disabled the Windows Update.
  • Those having difficulty updating MSE using Windows Update due to some problem.
  • When Windows Update is disabled by a virus.

Downloads:

MSE Update Utility Installer

MSE Update Utility Zipped

Mirror for Installer (Software Informer)

Update: The app has been updated to version 1.1, various fixes have been implemented. For full details, go here. The FAQ below has been edited to better reflect the changes.

Update 2: Those users who are uncomfortable using this tool can try out a Task Scheduler method which uses MSE’s own command line utility to look for latest virus signatures.

Update 3: The app is still v1.1, but we have managed to fix the exception error. Please note that it will work only with US Short Date Format, to read more about it, go here.

Update 4: Software Informer was kind enough to feature MSE Update Utility. They’ve been added to mirrors for downloading the application.

Note: This is the first second stable release. If you would like to see some additional features, drop a comment below. It requires .Net Framework 3.5 to run.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. The software wont update the virus definition?
A. Please make sure that the software is run with Administrator Privileges. This has been fixed, the software will indeed update the virus definitions even if you are not running with Administrator Privileges.

2. The software wont run on startup even though I have it enabled to run on startup?
A. Please disable your User Account Control (UAC) from the control panel. Disabling UAC was quite foolish for us to say, we have fixed this as well.  If you want to run an app during startup, please make sure you run the program as Administrator before checking the “Start during startup” option. You need to run the app as administrator because the app adds a key to the registry.

3. Where did the app get installed?
A. Straight in the C drive. You can now select any destination where you want to install the app.

4. The app shows the definitions have been updated but MSE still shows old definitions?
A. Exactly, MSE will actually show the updates a few minutes after the app says update complete. ;)

Special thanks goes to Haseeb Ahmed for his help in programming the app!

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  • KarlNapp

    Hallo,
    arbeitet das MSE-Update-Utility auch mit einem Proxy ?

  • Pingback: MSE Update Utility v1.1 Is Fixed & Other Small Rants | 48da Tech News

  • Hi

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  • suzannecrawford

    Among the problems I would like to address: your SEARCH bar (once I filled in any search items) doesn't have an arrow or whatever to click on to do the search. I've moved the mouse pointer as far right as possible, so that isn't the problem. What could it be?
    Next issue. I cannot find on the Microsoft webpages any link to the MSE updater download.
    Also, even when I downloaded the MSE updater update 1.1, the product info still shows version 1.0.
    Finally, even though I checkmarked updating on STARTUP in both places and saved these settings in that window, MSE still does not update on startup. I still have to update manually. Your help is so much appreciated.

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  • MArk

    great job guys
    i’m using version 1.1 and it works perfect
    updates on startup
    one question
    if i set it to update daily what would be the period between checkups for updates?
    1 hour? 2h ? 4h?
    please give me an answer
    once again great work

  • http://blog.yam.com/danfong Danfong Hsieh

    Hi,
    My name is Danfong Hsieh. I’m from Taiwan, Republic of China. Personally, I appreciate the MSE Update Utility software very much. However, your software is still not widely used in Taiwan. In order to make it more popular in Taiwan, I hope to modify the user interface of your software into Chinese Traditional version. May I ask for your authority to modify this software? And if it’s OK, could you give me the corresponding language and resource files to do it as well?

  • http://blog.yam.com/danfong Danfong Hsieh

    My name is Danfong Hsieh. I’m from Taiwan, Republic of China. Personally, I appreciate the MSE Update Utility software very much. However, your software is still not widely used in Taiwan. In order to make it more popular in Taiwan, I hope to modify the user interface of your software into Chinese Traditional version. May I ask for your authority to modify this software? And if it’s OK, could you give me the corresponding language and resource files to do it as well?

  • sajib

    the update size is very big!

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  • Zayd Kara

    When running the install i get the following error “The cabinet file ‘disk1.cab’ required for this installation is corrupt and ccanot be used”. , if i click Error Code 2350. Even the .zip file downloads indicates it downloaded succesfully, when you double click get error msg “Compressed file is invalid”. Have tried downloading thru our internal network and via 3g connection still the same.

  • kyers

    I am having problems, when I try to run it, an error comes up and it says this.

    When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
    will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
    rather than be handled by this dialog box.

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  • Andrew

    Seems like I’m getting the same errors as @kyers. Any suggestions? I’m running x64 version, is it not compatible?

    See the end of this message for details on invoking
    just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

    ************** Exception Text **************
    System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The system cannot find the file specified
    at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithShellExecuteEx(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
    at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
    at MSE_Update_Utility.Startup.tmrTemp_Tick(Object sender, EventArgs e) in D:\Program Files\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\MSE Virus Signature Update Checker\MSE Virus Signature Update Checker\Form2.vb:line 42
    at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)
    at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
    at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

    ************** Loaded Assemblies **************
    mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4952 (win7RTMGDR.050727-4900)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework64/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
    —————————————-
    MSE Update Utility
    Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/MSE%20Update%20Utility/MSE%20Update%20Utility.exe
    —————————————-
    Microsoft.VisualBasic
    Assembly Version: 8.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 8.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Microsoft.VisualBasic/8.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll
    —————————————-
    System
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
    —————————————-
    System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
    —————————————-
    System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
    —————————————-
    System.Runtime.Remoting
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Runtime.Remoting/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Runtime.Remoting.dll
    —————————————-
    System.Configuration
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
    —————————————-
    System.Xml
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.4927 (NetFXspW7.050727-4900)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
    —————————————-

    ************** JIT Debugging **************
    To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
    application or computer (machine.config) must have the
    jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
    The application must also be compiled with debugging
    enabled.

    For example:

    When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
    will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
    rather than be handled by this dialog box.

  • Ben

    Microsoft released MSE 2.0 last month. Will your utility still work?

  • http://identi.ca/pornocora Bonifacio

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  • Jonathan JOFFE

    Please advise if there is an option to direct this application to update MSE via the nis_full.exe which has been manually downloaded onto the local computer or local network?
    That means to Not look for the udpate on the internet?

    • Jo J

      I would be very interested in this same feature. At the moment, I am able to manually download the updates, but it seems that my pc overlooks these and still hangs on trying to retrieve the update online. My last attempt (using broadband) took over 6 hours before I decided to cancel it.

    • Jo J

      I would be very interested in this same feature. At the moment, I am able to manually download the updates, but it seems that my pc overlooks these and still hangs on trying to retrieve the update online. My last attempt (using broadband) took over 6 hours before I decided to cancel it.

  • Ken

    I’m using on Windows 7 Pro 64-bit and get this DotNet error within a minute or so of it launching v1.1 of the utility.

    See the end of this message for details on invoking
    just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

    ************** Exception Text **************
    System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The system cannot find the file specified
       at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithShellExecuteEx(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
       at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
       at MSE_Update_Utility.Startup.tmrTemp_Tick(Object sender, EventArgs e) in D:Program FilesVisual Studio 2008ProjectsMSE Virus Signature Update CheckerMSE Virus Signature Update CheckerForm2.vb:line 42
       at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)
       at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
       at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

    ************** Loaded Assemblies **************
    mscorlib
        Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
        Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5448 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
        CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework64/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
    —————————————-
    MSE Update Utility
        Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
        Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
        CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files%20(x86)/MSE%20Update%20Utility/MSE%20Update%20Utility.exe
    —————————————-
    Microsoft.VisualBasic
        Assembly Version: 8.0.0.0
        Win32 Version: 8.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
        CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/Microsoft.VisualBasic/8.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll
    —————————————-
    System
        Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
        Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5453 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
        CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
    —————————————-
    System.Windows.Forms
        Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
        Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5446 (Win7SP1GDR.050727-5400)
        CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
    —————————————-
    System.Drawing
        Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
        Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
        CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
    —————————————-
    System.Configuration
        Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
        Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
        CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
    —————————————-
    System.Xml
        Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
        Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
        CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
    —————————————-
    System.Runtime.Remoting
        Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
        Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.5420 (Win7SP1.050727-5400)
        CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Runtime.Remoting/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Runtime.Remoting.dll
    —————————————-

    ************** JIT Debugging **************
    To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
    application or computer (machine.config) must have the
    jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
    The application must also be compiled with debugging
    enabled.

    For example:

       

    When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
    will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
    rather than be handled by this dialog box.

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