LandzDown Forum

Downloading and Installing Microsoft Windows Defender

Minimum System Requirements

    * Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
    * A 300 MHz or faster processor with at least 64 MB of RAM
    * Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows ServerT 2003
    * At least 10 MB of available free space on your hard disk
    * Internet access with at least a 28.8 Kbps connection to use SpyNetT

Download Microsoft Windows Defender

Change the Save in location to Desktop and press the Save button. The program will now download and be saved on your desktop.
When it has completed downloading you will find then "MicrosoftAntiSpyware Install.exe" icon on your desktop.
Double-click on this icon to launch the setup of the Microsoft AntiSpyware program.
Press Next and accept the license agreement. Keep pressing the Next button, accepting all of the defaults, until you reach the "Microsoft AntiSpyware Installation Complete" screen.
Click Finish

Configure Microsoft Windows Defender

Microsoft Windows Defender will now load the "Setup Assistant".  Press Next and respond to the prompts:

Autoupdater -- the default is on.
Real-time Security Agent -- The real-time security agent will monitor your computer for any threats of spyware or browser hijackings and notify you immediately.
Spynet -- Spynet is a submission mechanism to provide samples and information about spyware that is not fixed by Microsoft Windows Defender.

Click Finish.  Leave checked or uncheck the option for Windows Defenderto run on its own every morning at 2 AM.
Click on the Run scan later link.

Update Windows Defender and Scan

Click on File menu and then click on Check for updates.
Click Spyware scan options.   
Select Run a full system scan and confirmthe following settings are checked:

    * Scan memory locations and running processes
    * Scan selected drives/folders
    * Deep Scan folders (recommended but will increase scan time)

Click the Select link to the right of Scan selected drives/folders.   
Select all the hard drives in your machine you wish to scan.
Note:  Do not select any cd rom, dvd, flash drives, memory sticks, cameras, or other devices. Select only hard drive partitions.
Click OK.  Save the options for future scans.
Click on the Run Scan Now button.

Scanning your computer

Press the Run Scan Now button.
When the scan is completed, use the default action or choose from Quarantine, Remove, or Ignore.
Click the checkbox labeled Create restore point. 
Press Continue, Press Yes.



 

Windows Defender is no longer beta software!  Note, however, the change that Windows 2000 is no longer supported as it is out of life cycle.