Issue with MSE and "Red Security Shield" on reboot

I have been experiencing an issue similar the thread posted by mandywr on 9-October-2012.

The Red Security Warning Shield (RSWS) in the "tray" shows up on any reboot of Windows XP Pro on an older (IBM R40 Laptop, 1GB memory, 1.73 GHz single core processor).

The problem first occurred about the time that Microsoft updated the Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) engine on or about 25 September 2012.

The RSWS "pops" on at every reboot. MSE comes up "green ". Clicking the red shield shows "anti-virus is turned off. "

Updating MSE will turn the flag off. However, MSE actually has to update. In other words, if I reboot again immediately after updating MSE, the definitions file on the MSE server must have changed, or the MSE on my machine will not update... (as there is no need). The result is the RSWS will stay on until the definitions change, and an actual update occurs.

I have all current Windows updates installed, and I have even uninstalled MSE and reinstalled it. The problem persists.

My guess is that this is a "quirk" with this laptop, as other laptops I own, with similar configs do not experience this problem.

I have done a lot of internet searches, and it has not gotten me closer to a solution. I have considered doing a bare metal image restore back to prior to the first noticed event. Perhaps, as far back as July. However, that is a significant amount of work due to the number of updates involved, and some new software that has been added to the machine.

I believe that I have tried just about everything listed in the original post by mandywr. However, nothing has been successful. Can someone recommend an action that may be effective? Is there a safe tool to determine if MSE is actually active and working? ... even though the RSWS is set? Is there a Registry setting that is being toggled incorrectly?

I am willing to experiment a little as I have current disk images, and can restore completely if something goes "South" too far.


Thanks.

 

This seems to have been an ongoing "quirk" for several months now. I had hoped Microsoft would have fixed it by now, but not so. If you don't want the red shield, click on it, click on "Recommendations" under Virus Protection section, then put a check mark in the box at the bottom of the dialog box that pops up where it says "I have an antivirus program that I will monitor myself. "

That will stop the red shield from appearing but be adivsed that you will not be warned of any out of date virus programs/definitions.

 

Steve R Jones and JohnB: Thank you for your quick responses. I will give some thought to this, and perhaps keep digging.

Does anyone know where the warning bit gets set?

Are these quirks always with laptops?

Thanks.

 

Not always with laptops, I have the quirk on an XP desktop. My Win 7 laptop doesn't have the problem.

 

I agree, with XP in it's declining years it probably won't get fixed. As I know what the issue is and it is not something to be worried about, I can live with it until I upgrade or replace my desktop with a newer computer.

 

Have you tried MS "Fixit "? Just a thought that should not do any harm. Neil.