Microsoft Security Essentials expired

I use MS Security Essentials on my Windows 7 x64. I've been using it for years and since a few days now it does not update the definition files.

I tried to do it manually, and I get the following error (translated):

Error code: 0x80070070
Error description: The license for application usage has expired.
The computer is exposed to malware infections.

As much as I know, SE is free to use on an activated Windows and does not expire.

What happened?

Nestor

Posted 2014-11-21T11:10:05.100

Reputation: 633

Have you kept Security Essentials up to date? – developer__c – 2014-11-21T11:25:59.190

Yes. Its last update is of 17th of November. – Nestor – 2014-11-21T11:30:07.670

What version do you have installed. I would uninstall it, and install the current version, because MSE at one time was paid and I suspect you have that version installed. – Ramhound – 2014-11-21T12:05:11.900

Client program: 4.6.305.0 Engine: 1.1.11104.0 Virus definition: 1.187.2382.0 Malware definition: 1.187.2382.0 Network monitor engine: 2.1.11005.0 Network monitor definition: 113.26.0.0 – Nestor – 2014-11-21T13:04:15.490

Answers

It seems that the new definition files take up to 107 MB in file size. I simply has 70 MB of free space on my C drive and it is not enough...

After freeing up some space, SE could update itself. Great...

Nestor

Posted 2014-11-21T11:10:05.100

Reputation: 633

Do you really mean 70 MB and not 70 GB? A system with that little free disk space is not going to work very well. I suggest that you run disk cleanup and tick only "Temporary Internet Files", "Temporary Files" and "Thumbnails" for a start, then when that's done see how much free disk space you have. – Andrew Morton – 2014-11-22T20:50:33.460

Believe me, I tried a lots of things :) My C partition is only 100 GB and it has been taken up a few installed program. I guess, C partition requires a whole disk...a few years ago 20 GB was sufficient. Nowadays TBs are needed to have a proper system. – Nestor – 2014-11-22T21:48:00.073

There could be available space which needs to be reclaimed by running chkdsk c: /f from a command prompt run with Administrator privileges, but with so little free disk space I suspect that could be dangerous. You know the only real solution is to get a larger disk drive, don't you? ;) – Andrew Morton – 2014-11-22T21:59:11.090

Uninstall MSE and reinstall Make sure you have correct year, date and time, could be SSL issue.

user392098

Posted 2014-11-21T11:10:05.100

Reputation: 11