I can't update definitions in Windows Defender and get this message: The program can't check for definition updates. Error found: Code 0xc8000408.
- Can't find any info on what this means or what to do so I can update again in Windows Defender. this error message only started showing up recently, or at least I think so. I thought it was updating automatically but when I tried to do so manually because it said it was out of date. Tried several times but get same message each time.1 person got this answerI do too
Answers
You're welcome. Your computer should NOT be connected to the internet or any networks without a fully-functional, fully-updated anti-virus application installed. But first, let's take care of any Norton "leftovers"...
1. Download the Norton Removal Tool, saving it to your desktop: ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe2. Close all open applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar).
3. Right-click on the file you saved in #1 above and select Run as Administrator to run the utility. Don't TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot.
Now you'll need to download/install an anti-virus application. While I don't professionally recommend AVG, you might find that AVG Free v9.0 more compatible if you select a CUSTOM install this time around and do NOT install Linkscanner, Search-Shield, Active Surf-Shield, Security toolbar or any of the email scanning components.Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm
Otherwise, I can recommend Microsoft Security Essentials*, Avira AntiVir, and Avast (all free) as well as NOD32 and Kaspersky (not the "internet security" suites). After installing your chosen AV app, manually & repeatedly update it until you get a "no more updates" prompt.
[Avoid Norton & McAfee applications IMHO.]
=============================
* Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) includes an anti-virus and anti-spyware components. The latter will replace (and should automatically disable) Windows Defender in Vista.
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft- Marked As Answer byMike - Support EngineerMicrosoft Support, ModeratorWednesday, November 25, 2009 8:28 PM
All Replies
- Hi dhcatlady,
Please always state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3; Vista 64-bit SP2) when posting in a forum or newsgroup. Please do so in your next reply. Also tell us which updates are failing to install (e.g., KB955430), and what if any error messages you are receiving?
Its strange that you would be getting an error code for OS Win 2k. Please try the following, then try to do a Windows Defender Update.
How do I reset Windows Update components? - a Mr Fixit
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058
Hope it helps,
Stephen Davies MS - I already put all that information but don't know what happened to it.
I have Windows Vista Home Premium, SP2. I have no idea if it's 32 or 64 bit; it's the regular one, nothing unusual, running on a Dell Inspiron.
The update was the manual definitions update as I already stated, and it does not have a number as it is not one of the updates that one chooses in Windows Update. It's the update done inside the Windows Defender program itself either by the user or set to be done automatically, so it does not give the user a number...it just does it. And that is how I had it set, to do automatically, checking for updates each night before the scan. So I only tried to do it manually because I discovered the automatic one failed, giving the same error message which is:
"The program can't check for definition updates. Error found: Code 0xc8000408"
I can't find anything on that particuluar code. I also just got that same code as a problem when trying to do something else. I'm not quite sure how to find out what is wrong if the code won't show up anywhere in the searches I've been doing. That's why I wrote, in case someone else has heard of it or experienced this or knows what it means.
It should not be this hard to find out what an error code stands for if the error code is going to be given when an action can't be completed. How can one fix the problem if they don't even know what the problem is?
Anyway, thanks to anyone for your help and input. c8000408 = hrFileAccessDenied
What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought it)?
Can you download the latest definitions and install the update manually?
https://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Definitions/HowToWD.aspx
1. Download the file, saving it to your desktop.
2. Close all open applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar).
3. Right-click on the file you saved in #1 above and select Run as Administrator. Don't TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot for good measure.
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft- Thanks very much, PA Bear. Until a few minutes ago, I had AVG Free 9.0 as my antivirus program and it was current, with updates every day or so. Have had it for the last year since getting the new computer. Always working great until this week.
Thank you for the error code name; at least now I know. When an error code is given on screen after a problem, the meaning of it and what to do should be included. I'm not quite sure why this all has to be so fragmented and hard to piece together when there's a problem.
Anyway, I already uninstalled my AVG Free antivirus program because I found something on eggheadcafe.com a few minutes ago that indicated it may be intereference from that, although it's not been a problem the last year I've had AVG and Defenders working just fine together until this week.
Anyway, I uninstalled it because I could not figure out how to turn it off. Then I restarted computer and Defender worked just fine and I was able to do manual definitions update. All seems well but now I don't have an antivirus program and will have to install a new one.
There may have been a free trial version of Norton Security Suite on the computer when I bought it but I uninstalled it. I don't remember if that was the name but I think it was. Anyway, the only AV program was the AVG which worked just great until now, and so now it's uninstalled as well.
Thanks for your help. I appreciate it very much.
dhcatlady You're welcome. Your computer should NOT be connected to the internet or any networks without a fully-functional, fully-updated anti-virus application installed. But first, let's take care of any Norton "leftovers"...
1. Download the Norton Removal Tool, saving it to your desktop: ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe2. Close all open applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar).
3. Right-click on the file you saved in #1 above and select Run as Administrator to run the utility. Don't TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot.
Now you'll need to download/install an anti-virus application. While I don't professionally recommend AVG, you might find that AVG Free v9.0 more compatible if you select a CUSTOM install this time around and do NOT install Linkscanner, Search-Shield, Active Surf-Shield, Security toolbar or any of the email scanning components.Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm
Otherwise, I can recommend Microsoft Security Essentials*, Avira AntiVir, and Avast (all free) as well as NOD32 and Kaspersky (not the "internet security" suites). After installing your chosen AV app, manually & repeatedly update it until you get a "no more updates" prompt.
[Avoid Norton & McAfee applications IMHO.]
=============================
* Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) includes an anti-virus and anti-spyware components. The latter will replace (and should automatically disable) Windows Defender in Vista.
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft- Marked As Answer byMike - Support EngineerMicrosoft Support, ModeratorWednesday, November 25, 2009 8:28 PM
Can't find any info on what this means or what to do so I can update again in Windows Defender. this error message only started showing up recently, or at least I think so. I thought it was updating automatically but when I tried to do so manually because it said it was out of date. Tried several times but get same message each time.
I had a similar problem. I was told Windows Defender needed a new definition, and when I asked it to check for update, it said it found nothing. I finally found the link and downloaded the new definition. Basically, you need a mpas-fe.exe to download the new definition.
Here is the link. Make sure you pick the right version, 32-bit or 64-bit.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/923159
t-4-2- Proposed As Answer byt-4-2 Friday, November 20, 2009 5:26 AM
