Windows Update failure code

debraholder

unread,

Nov 19, 2009, 2:39:59 PM11/19/09

to

I can't update definitions in Windows Defender and get this message:

The program can't check for definition updates. Error found: Code 0xc8000408

Can someone please tell me what this means and what to do? I can't find any info yet.

I have Windows Vista Home Premium edition with SP2 installed and running IE9 or whatever the latest one is that I uploaded a few months ago. I have not gotten this error message until just the last few days.

Thank you.

EggHeadCafe - Software Developer Portal of Choice
C# Mutipart MIME Encoding Library using CDO
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials/aspnet/74032d0b-6662-4b82-acc0-6623da269eb5/c-mutipart-mime-encoding.aspx

MowGreen

unread,

Nov 19, 2009, 4:33:47 PM11/19/09

to

0xC8000408 hrFileAccessDenied
Unable to access the file.

Is there a McAfee product installed ?
If yes, then ignore the error code in the title of this MSKB and exclude
the referenced files from McAfee's realtime protection and configure
it's scanner to *not* scan them, too:

You receive error code 0xC80001FE when try to connect to the Windows
Update Web site or to the Microsoft Update Web site to install updates
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958048

Reference with the 0xC8000408 error showing in the WindowsUpdate.log.
Compare the log on your system to the one in this MSKB:

Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 Inventory Tool for Microsoft
Updates cannot run when a McAfee antivirus program is installed on the
same computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922358

How to read the Windowsupdate.log file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093

MowGreen
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

banthecheck.com
"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked"

Ǝиçεl

unread,

Nov 19, 2009, 5:15:01 PM11/19/09

to

Hello Debra,

Consider going to the secuяity portal

<http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/>

and downloading the 32-bit definitions for Windows Defender to the desktop,
then
*right* click mpas-fe.exe and choose 'Run as administrator' to apply.

See if that both brings you up to date, and perhaps improves on the behavior
in future.

I hope this post is helpful.

Let us know how it works ºut.

Good luck

Ǝиçεl
-=-

"Debra Holder" wrote:

> .
>

PA Bear [MS MVP]

unread,

Nov 20, 2009, 2:19:58 AM11/20/09

to

I believe we've gotten this OP sorted, BroMow. See
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/0ca49dac-d472-4304-af15-3661e3ed7b6b/

Norton strikes again!

MowGreen

unread,

Nov 21, 2009, 12:46:19 PM11/21/09

to

AVG or Norton ? Going by that thread it's hard to tell if the issue was
caused by an AV or PEBKAC <g>
I can't believe that you'd recommend MSE, a perpetual beta product.

*No one* should Trust a perpetual beta AV will protect their system.

MowGreen
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

banthecheck.com
"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked"

PA Bear [MS MVP]

unread,

Nov 22, 2009, 2:25:19 AM11/22/09

to

Sure beats Norton though!

MowGreen

unread,

Nov 23, 2009, 1:41:03 PM11/23/09

to

Dog poo is better than Norton but I'd never recommend it. <eg>