Two years ago, downloaded WBD and installed to USB just in case a virus cannot be cleaned by onboard virus program.
Got to thinking: should WBD be updated on a regular basis to include the latest virus software?
Or is a two year old version the same as today’s?
Does MS update this program?
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Update Windows Bit Defender?
Home » Forums » AskWoody support » Windows » Windows 8.1 » Questions: Win 8.1 (and Win 8) » Update Windows Bit Defender?
- This topic has 10 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 1 month ago.
AuthorTopicWSrobertpri
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 20, 2015 at 3:06 pm #498722Viewing 7 reply threadsAuthorReplies-
WSSudo
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 20, 2015 at 3:37 pm #1491353Two years ago, downloaded WBD and installed to USB just in case a virus cannot be cleaned by onboard virus program.
Got to thinking: should WBD be updated on a regular basis to include the latest virus software?
Or is a two year old version the same as today’s?
Does MS update this program?It only updates it when you reload it – bottom of http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/windows-defender-offline-faq
May be a good idea to do that once a month to keep it up to date just as the MSRT is updated monthly.
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browni
AskWoody MVP -
bbearren
AskWoody MVPFebruary 20, 2015 at 4:04 pm #1491363If you’re talking about Windows Defender Offline, it can run from a CD, and it doesn’t have to be updated. When the PC is booted from the Windows Defender Offline CD, the first thing it does is build a RAM drive, then it will connect with the MS secure server to update the virus definitions, and after that it will run your choice of scan.
The CD only contains the AV/AM engine, the RAM drive function, and network drivers. Each time it is run, it downloads the latest available virus definitions to the RAM drive.
Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.We were all once "Average Users". -
WSSudo
AskWoody Lounger -
bbearren
AskWoody MVPFebruary 21, 2015 at 1:54 pm #1491668What I said in post #4 used to be true. Microsoft has since “fixed” it. One can boot to the CD, let the RAM drive get built, then try to update the virus definitions (which did work in the past), but the update fails with error code 0x80072ee7. “The 0x80072EE7 error code may occur if the client computer cannot find the correct IP address when it tries to resolve a URL for the Windows Update Web site or for the Microsoft Update Web site.”
I’m assuming that Microsoft has changed the IP address for the virus definitions updates at the server end. And there is a clue in the Help file (when the 0x80072ee7 error code pops up); they’re getting Windows Defender Offline ready for Windows 10:
39513-WP_20150221_14_24_27_Pro1
Windows Defender Offline on a CD will now use only the virus definitions that were downloaded during the CD creation process for Vista, 7, 8, and 8.1. Windows 10 will suggest a reboot into Windows Defender “when it identifies advanced malware”.
Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.We were all once "Average Users". -
WSSudo
AskWoody LoungerFebruary 21, 2015 at 3:55 pm #1491677Looks like they’re ending support sooner than they said they would.
Fortunately there’s probably a better tool in the Kaspersky Rescue Disk http://support.kaspersky.co.uk/viruses/rescuedisk/main
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bbearren
AskWoody MVPFebruary 21, 2015 at 5:04 pm #1491688Windows Defender Offline tool is still available, and is still supported. The way it works has been changed. When the tool is run, whether to create a CD, USB or ISO, it downloads the latest available virus definitions to incorporate into the bootable media that launches Windows Defender. It will boot on both BIOS/MBR systems and EFI/GPT systems.
Since I dual boot Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 8.1 Pro, I can run an offline scan with Windows Defender on the offline installation from the booted installation without booting to a CD or DVD.
Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.We were all once "Average Users". -
WSSudo
AskWoody Lounger -
bbearren
AskWoody MVPFebruary 21, 2015 at 6:13 pm #1491697So it’s now as I mistakenly thought it was in Post #2 ?
You weren’t mistaken, I was; repeating outdated information.
Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.We were all once "Average Users". -
WSSudo
AskWoody Lounger
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