14 DAY TRIAL // It’s not uncommon for security solutions to have issues with products offering functionality that overlaps or conflicts theirs, and Microsoft Security Essentials is no exception.
Apparently, Microsoft Security Essentials 2.1 fails to play nice with antivirus products and with some solutions designed to let users manage their computers.
In such cases, users will get an error message when launching MSE, according to the software giant.
Specifically, when they see Microsoft Security Essentially display the following: “You haven't run a scan on your computer for a while. This could put your computer at risk,” they should know that something is wrong.
“This error appears as the result of third party anti-virus and/or system cleaner products conflicting with Microsoft Security Essentials,” Microsoft said.
The Redmond company reveals that this error can be presented to MSE 2.1 users that also run CCleaner, for example. Customers leveraging both MSE and CCleaner will need to update the later.
“Open CCleaner. Click Application settings, then uncheck the MSE AntiMalware box. Click OK. Open Microsoft Security Essentials. Click the Update tab, then click Update. Once the update is complete, click the Home tab, then click Scan Now,” the software giant said.
“It is recommended that you only use one anti-virus product at a time, as using multiple programs may cause them to conflict with each other, and therefore putting your computer at risk.”
In the eventuality that the instructions presented above fail to resolve the issue, or for those not running CCleaner, users should try to uninstall AV or system cleaner products completely.
“Even if you uninstall your anti-virus or system cleaner program, it may still leave behind some remnants in your registry. To completely remove the anti-virus or system cleaner program from your computer, contact the program's manufacturer for steps on how to do this,” the company said.
Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) 2.1 is available for download here.