This article describes how to manually download the latest
definition updates for Microsoft Windows Defender.
If you do not want to use Microsoft Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to update the Windows Defender definition files, you can update the definitions manually. Depending on whether you have a 32-bit version of Windows or a 64-bit version of Windows, follow the steps for your operating system.
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To determine whether a computer is running a 32-bit version or a 64-bit version of Windows, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
827218
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218/
)
How to determine whether a computer is running a 32-bit version or 64-bit version of the Windows operating system
32-bit versions of Windows
To download the Windows Defender definition update file for 32-bit (x86-based) versions of Windows, follow these steps:
- Click the following link: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=70631
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=70631)
- In the download dialog box, click either Run or Save.
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- Click Run to install the definition file immediately.
- Click Save to save the definition file to the computer. To install the saved definition update file, click Start, click Run, locate the folder where you saved the definition file, double-click the Mpas-fe.exe file, and then click OK.
- When the definition file runs, a file extraction dialog box appears. The dialog box indicates that the definition update is installing. After the file extraction dialog box closes, to verify that the Windows Defender definitions are updated, follow these steps:
- Start Windows Defender.
- Check the definition version that is listed in the box at the bottom of the Windows Defender Home dialog box.
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To install the file on a computer that is running Windows Vista, right-click the file, and then click
Run As Administrator to
install it.
Corporate customer
If you are a corporate customer, you should use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) version 2.0 or later versions to distribute Windows Defender definition updates. However, you can also use a user logon script to manually install a definition update by running a Windows Defender definition update file.
The Windows Defender definition update file (Mpas-fe.exe) can
use the
-q command-line execution switch. This switch installs the
definition update in quiet mode. Quiet mode suppresses the definition file
extraction dialog box. For example, type the following command:
Mpas-fe.exe -q
64-bit versions of Windows
If you run a 64-bit version of Windows, download the Windows Defender Update
Definition file by clicking one of the following links.
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You must be running a 64-bit version of Windows to run a 64-bit version of Windows
Defender. 64-bit versions of Windows include x64-based versions and Itanium-based versions.
To download the Windows Defender definition update file for x64-based versions of Windows, click the following link:
To download the Windows Defender definition update file for Itanium-based versions of Windows, click the following link:
Technical support for x64-based versions of Microsoft Windows
If your hardware already has a Windows x64 edition installed, your hardware manufacturer provides technical support and assistance for the Windows x64 edition. In this case, your hardware manufacturer provides support because a Windows x64 edition was included with your hardware. Your hardware manufacturer might have customized the Windows x64 edition installation by using unique components. Unique components might include specific device drivers or might include optional settings to maximize the performance of the hardware. Microsoft will provide reasonable-effort assistance if you need technical help with a Windows x64 edition. However, you might have to contact your manufacturer directly. Your manufacturer is best qualified to support the software that your manufacturer installed on the hardware. If you purchased a Windows x64 edition such as Windows Server 2003 x64 edition separately, contact Microsoft for technical support.
For product information about Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, go to the following Microsoft website:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx
(http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx)
For product information about x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003, go to the following Microsoft website:
http://support.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003x64
(http://support.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003x64)
For product information about Windows 7 64-bit versions, go to
32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions
(http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-windows-frequently-asked-questions)
Article ID: 923159 - Last Review: July 12, 2012 - Revision: 11.0
| kbdefenderrtwswept kbtshoot KB923159 |
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