Updating Microsoft Security Essentials Using Command-Line

Ramesh

13 years ago

Microsoft Security Essentials includes a command-line utility which can be used to update the virus/malware definitions, initiate a scan, undo a recent definition update and perform other tasks. To know how to use the command-line utility, open a Command Prompt window (CMD.EXE) and execute the following command:

"%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Security Essentials\MpCmdRun.exe" /?

Command	Description
-? / -h	Displays all available options for this tool.
-Trace [-Grouping #] [-Level #]	Starts diagnostic tracing
-RemoveDefinitions [-All]	Restores the installed signature definitions to a previous backup copy or to the original default set of signatures
-RestoreDefaults	Resets the registry values for Microsoft Antimalware Service settings to known good defaults
-SignatureUpdate [-UNC]	Checks for new definition updates
-Scan [-ScanType]	Scans for malicious software
-Restore -Name <name> [-All]	Restore the most recently or all quarantined item(s) based on name
-GetFiles	Collects support information

In addition to the above information, detailed information for each command-line parameter is shown when you run the above command.

To update the MSE virus/malware definitions, use this command:

"%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Security Essentials\MpCmdRun.exe" -SignatureUpdate

The command-line tool can be useful if you want to update MSE using Batch file, Script or using Task Scheduler.