Windows 7 SP1 Beta and Microsoft Security Essentials Can Fail to Play Nice Together

Major upgrades to Windows client and server platforms introduce extensive changes both on the surface and under-the-hood, down to the very core of the operating systems. It’s no wonder then, that the installation of new service packs can be prevented by programs designed with the specific purpose of safeguarding the platforms’ integrity. Early adopters deploying the Beta of the first Service Pack for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 can experience installation problems if they are running security software on their computers. According to Microsoft, the issues can affect Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta when testers attempt to have it integrated on top of Windows 7 RTM and Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM on computers where Microsoft Security Essentials or Microsoft Forefront Client Security are already installed.

“If you try to install or uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta with Microsoft Security Essentials or Microsoft Forefront Client Security already installed on your computer, your security program might prevent the successful installation or removal of the service pack,” Microsoft revealed.

As far as Microsoft Security Essentials is concerned the steps that end users need to take are rather simple. The software giant advised testers to make sure they are running the latest release of MSE, formerly codenamed Morro. If Microsoft Security Essentials is at least at version 1.0.1963.0 or later, than installing Windows 7 SP1 should work out smoothly.

Things are a tad more complicated when it comes down to machines running Microsoft Forefront Client Security. In this regard, customers will need to uninstall the security solution and then go ahead with the deployment of SP1 Beta. In case that they need to remove SP1 Beta, customers will also be required to uninstall Forefront Client Security first.

Here is how the Redmond company is advising customers to handle Windows 7 SP1 Beta installations:

“Microsoft Security Essentials

1. Find out if Microsoft Security Essentials is installed on your computer by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, and then, under Programs, clicking Uninstall a program.
2. If Microsoft Security Essentials appears in the list, it's installed on your computer. Check the version number to make sure Version 1.0.1963.0 or later is installed. If the correct version isn't installed, follow the next steps in this section. (Or, if Microsoft Security Essentials doesn't appear in the list, skip the rest of this section.)
3. Click the Start button, type "Microsoft Update" in the search box, and then click Check for updates.
4. Select Microsoft Security Essentials Client update package - KB2254596, click Install updates, and then wait for the installation to finish.
5. Install Windows 7 SP1 Beta or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta by following the steps you were using before the error message appeared.

Microsoft Forefront Client Security

1. Find out if Microsoft Forefront Client Security is installed on your computer by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, and then, under Programs, clicking Uninstall a program.
2. If Microsoft Forefront Client Security Antimalware Service and Microsoft Forefront Client Security State Assessment Service appear in the list, contact your network administrator for instructions on how to uninstall Microsoft Forefront Client Security.
3. After Microsoft Forefront Client Security is uninstalled, install or uninstall Windows 7 SP1 Beta or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Beta by following the steps you were using before the error message appeared.
4. Contact your network administrator immediately for instructions on reinstalling Microsoft Forefront Client Security.”

Windows 7 SP1 Beta will be available for public testing by the end of this month.

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