Windows Defender Offline definitions out of date

Anonymous

Windows 7 64 Bit. I have been using Windows Defender Offline on a USB thumb drive (4 GB, uses less than 1 GB) for years without problem. Last week updating Windows Defender Offline definitions to an already working USB thumb drive seemed to install correctly. When I boot to the USB thumb drive the program boots and runs but I get the message the "definitions out of date", and it will not scan the computer. I tried formatting USB thumb drive and then installing the whole Windows Defender Offline with definitions instead of just updating the definitions to the already working USB thumb drive. Everything went correctly, the size of the download appeared to be correct. I booted to the USB thumb drive and still got the message "definitions out of date". Since the Windows Defender Offline program started offline, and was installed onto a completely formatted USB thumb drive, it must have downloaded and installed correctly but the definitions are still "out of date". Are the definitions being updated by Microsoft or has the program been discontinued?

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Anonymous

Not sure that matters at this point, the messages appear to be pointing to 2 unrelated failure points.

I have an update.

We have identified the problem and are working on a new Windows Defender Offline release.

Paul...

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85 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-05-18T17:13:07+00:00

It has been my experience when using Windows Defender Offline (WDO) over several years that when I try to use a boot CD created several days prior I get kicked out for having out of date definitions. When I try to update while still booted from the CD, sometimes it updates, sometimes it does not. CD’s are cheap, I just go to a different computer and create a new boot CD with the latest definitions and I am back in business on the suspected to be infected computer.

Not any more, for the last two or more months. Now when I create a new boot CD, from the latest tool download, with the latest definitions, the system boots to WDO, but I immediately get a message that the definitions are out of date. And, when I throw my hands up in frustration and press the update button it is again rejected as definitions out of date. NOT with the usual message that the tool cannot access the definition update server due to no connection. Just a flat statement that the tool cannot be updated.

This used to be a really good and reliable tool. Have used it to bring many machines back from the edge of the abyss. The Microsoft support website says that Windows 7 will be supported for security until 2020. Did that commitment just get changed? This is an important security tool for Windows 7.
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Anonymous

2016-05-18T02:04:55+00:00

For those of you doing this on Windows 7 and getting the message ‘This app requires up-to-date virus and spyware definitions. You’ll need to install the latest definition updates before scanning your PC.’

What happens if you press the Update button?

I am getting an error 0x80072ee7 but a peer is getting an error 8x80070070.

I get an error code 0x80072EE7. However, when booting from a WDO thumb drive or CD there is no Internet connectivity anyway, so clearly clicking on the Update button will fail, and whatever error code one gets is irrelevant.
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Anonymous

2016-05-18T01:00:52+00:00

I get no error message except the previously noted "definition file out of date" when booting the Windows Defender Offline.
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Anonymous

2016-05-18T00:56:48+00:00

Windows 7 Home Premium / 64 Bit

Using the same mssstool64.exe I have used for years.
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