Resolved microsoft security alert - confusion

I have a security alert from Microsoft [red shield in system tray]. On opening Windows security center I am told that Microsoft Security Essentials reports that it is switched off.. However on opening Microsoft Security Essentials it says real time protection is switched on and monitoring my PC. I am running XP home. The last full scan was yesterday and the program is up to date. No problems were reported.

What should I do to be sure the system is running correctly?

 

Hi mandwyr, I've had this occur 2 or 3 times with XP OS. I found that Re-Booting the comp usually started MSE.

I've never experienced anything similar with Vista and wonder whether it is a quirk with XP.

The first time it happened, I un-installed MSE - then re-installed again thinking I might have a corrupt copy.

Just did a Google and see reports of a possible virus which tries to get you to purchase anti-malware which may infest your comp.
As long as you don't have an accompanying message - if it keeps annoying you and MSE is running OK, you can disable the alerts through Control Panel > Security > Change the way Security Centre alerts me. Cheers Neil.

 

Security Centre Not Talking to MSE???

I am having the same problem. It usually goes away when I update MSE but today nothing, even a reboot, will get rid of the red alert shield except telling the Security Centre to stop monitoring MSE. Perhaps someone from Microsoft will notice in the next few days and fix the glitch. In the meantime I am sure MSE is still doing it's job.

 

Thank you. Rebooting has not fixed it.
Microsoft Essentials thinks it is running [icon showing with a tick] but the windows security alerts message says that Microsoft Essentials reports that Microsoft Essentials is turned off -so I do not know whether it is actually running or not

Task manager does not show it running but there is a process [using 0 CPU] called msseces.exe

 

I just dealt with the same issue on my XP PC. It stated that Security Essentials service was off and I just clicked the button within the alert to turn it back on. Once that was done the Microsoft Updates shield popped up informing me of new updates to download and install. One was for MSE. I figure that Microsoft Updates decided it wanted priority over MSE at startup and the MSE service couldn't start.

 

Still have security warning

I followed PeteC's suggestion and uninstalled/reinstalled MSE. Warning shield went away, but as soon as I rebooted it came back. Goes away when MSE defintions are updated but comes back on a reboot. Guess we will have to sit this one out until someone finds a solution.

I am pretty sure MSE is still doing it's job.

 

Followup

I just tried downloading the virus test file "eicar.com" from the Eicar.org site and MSE nailed it right away. This confirms my thought that MSE is still working despite the warning from the Security Center.

 

my security alert went away after the latest set of XP updates [which happens automatically when I switch off] -so, for now at any rate, problem solved. It has not come back on re booting.