Windows Defender Offline Tries To Update Definitions

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I am trying to run Windows Defender Offline becuase of constant high CPU usage even when not connected to internet or home network and PC has been idle for a couple of hours. A full scan with MSE shows no problems so I wanted to do an offline scan. I created both a DVD and a USB from the Microsoft site. They both boot the PC and start the process but instead of scanning they both try to update the definitions and stop saying there is a connectivety problem and stop the process. Even though I just created the disc and USB with the current definitions I get a message that the definitions are out of date and the program stops while trying to update. The definitions cannot be updated during an offline scan as my PC does not connect to the internet until after logging on to Windows 7. In Googleing this problem I have found other people are having this problem also. I am using a Dell Optiplex 780 that was refurbished by Joy systems and sold through Staples. It is Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. It was up to date and fully patched until Microsoft ended support. MSE is still updated definition wise. I have a small home eithernet network consisting of another refurbished  PC running Win 10 Pro 64 bit, this PC running Win 7 Pro 64 bit and a printer/scanner. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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[Kiriakos T.]

You may disable  Windows Defender due it own panel and use Malwarebytes instead.

Have you ever take a look of what actually are the win 7 security patches ?

They are patches them patching security issues relative to Microsoft Internet explorer.

Do you know that Microsoft internet explorer 11 this is DEAD and not usable any more for web surfing?

The Win 7 are safe due their nature, they do not need patches.   Just use Firefox for everything as web related activity.

End of transmission from Greece 

Win7 Pro (Blue Retail Box) i7 4770 - 16GB DDR3 2400XMP - GTX1060 6GB - Professional Workstation

• This reply was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Kiriakos T..

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CT47

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Kiriakos T.

Thanks tor your input. I have been using Firefox for many yaers now. Only time I use IE is on a few websites that require it where I do necessary business. As time goes on there are fewer of them thankfully.

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I’ve run into the same problem, @CT47.  Current versions of WDO will simply not run unless you’re connected to the internet.  It kind of makes a mockery of the term “Offline”, IMHO. I consider “offline” to mean the computer is not connected to a network, but I guess Microsoft now uses the term to mean Windows is to be scanned without actively booting into it.

Like you, there are times when I’d like to be able to scan a system without it being connected to the internet, but no matter how recent the database on the DVD/USB stick, it will always say it’s “out of date” and refuses to go any further.

It didn’t used to be that way.  I have a WDO iso I saved from Spring 2019 that works properly.  It will tell you the database is out of date (which by now, of course, is true), but it will still scan with the database it has, if you want it to.  In contrast, WDO versions I’ve created more recently will simply refuse to run without a network connection, no matter how recent the database.

I don’t know of a way around it.  I think your only choice is to give up on WDO, as its purpose has really narrowed to just a few select scenarios.

 

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CT47, satrow

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Lots of AV use online heuristics to improve detection and this may be the issue with WDO.

cheers, Paul

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[Geo]

I still use MSE that came with Win 7.  I’d delete Defender.  I have home so I use 0patch Pro also for updates. You could also use Malwarebytes.  I use malwarebytes ADW cleaner also.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Geo.

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How exactly would you delete Defender?
Defender in Windows 7 is hard baked in!
In any case, once MSE is installed, Windows 7 Defender is disabled. Once MSE is removed, Defender is re-enabled by default as a failsafe (unless disabled via Services/Tasks and GP)
Windows 7 defender isn’t much good these days even though MS still supplies updates for it.

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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geekdom

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Thanks to all that have offered suggestions and help. It appears that I did not describe myself correctly. “Windows Defender Offline” is a different app from “Windows Defender”. WDO was orginally meant to scan for malware while Windows was not running. As I undersand it, some maleware and virus was hard to detect and remove from files that were in use. WDO is a small app you create from an execution file such as”mssstool64.exe” that the computer can boot from but still have Windows not running yet in order to find and remove malware that would othewise be difficult or impossile to remove. Google “Windows Defender Offline” and you will be directed to a Microsoft site that explains it better. Thanks again for everyones help.

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