Symptom

You are unable to download Microsoft Security Essentials in order to install or upgrade it.

Cause

Internet connectivity issues, conflicting Internet settings, or conflicting antivirus programs on your computer might prevent you from successfully downloading Microsoft Security Essentials.

Solution

Step 1: Make sure you're connected to the Internet

  1. If you can't connect to the Internet, see I can't connect to the Internet issue (General topic).

  2. Restart your computer, and then try to install Microsoft Security Essentials again.

Step 2: Disable the "Automatically detect settings" option in Windows Internet Explorer

  1. Start Windows Internet Explorer.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.

  3. On the Connections tab, under Local Area Network (LAN) settings, click LAN settings.

  4. Clear the Automatically detect settings check box.

  5. Click OK, and then click OK again.

  6. Restart your computer, and then try to install Microsoft Security Essentials again.

Step 3: Remove any existing security programs

  1. Completely uninstall any existing Internet security programs by following the steps in the topic How do I uninstall antivirus or antispyware programs?

  2. Restart your computer.

  3. Install Microsoft Security Essentials again. If this does not resolve the issue, continue to the next step.

Step 4: Try downloading using Windows Internet Explorer

  1. If you are using a browser other than Windows Internet Explorer, close that browser and launch Windows Internet Explorer.

  2. Try to download and install Microsoft Security Essentials from within Windows Internet Explorer.

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