Microsoft Security Essentials AND Windows Security?

[Starwind51]

The red Windows Security shield icon keeps telling me my antivirus isn't turned on or it's out of date.  My green Microsoft Security Essentials castle icon tells me it is working and is up-to-date.  Am I supposed to have Windows antivirus turned off because I have MS Sec. Ess.?  If they're both turned on aren't they competing with each other and overtaxing my CPU?  If I have the Windows Security do I not need the MS Security Essentials?  Are they doing different things?  The Windows product mentions a Firewall but the Security Essentials doesn't. 

[harry 48]

you should only have one av in your pc as they might be in conflict or cause problems , i would keep MSE

disable the windows one , but i would delete it altogether

you will still have the firewall working

[Allan]

What is Windows Anti Virus?

[Starwind51]

What is Windows Anti Virus?

It's very confusing to me.  I have two icons, the castle and the shield.  When I click on the castle the window that opens is labeled Microsoft Security Essentials.  The shield only appears in the icon tray when there's a problem.  I went to the Control Panel to open it.  The window that opens is labeled Windows Security Center.  Earlier today (Friday) the castle was green but the shield was red.  This makes it seem as if there's an antivirus software named Windows something, and it wasn't turned on.  But turning it on yields a message that MS Essentials is working.  It makes it seem that if I didn't have MS Ess. there would be another antivirus product called Windows something that would need updating. 

Actually, I think it turns out to be a case of Microsoft's left hand not knowing what its right hand is doing.  The WSC doesn't recognize that MSE is working unless you tell it so. 

I think my question's been answered.

[BC_Programmer]

Windows Security Center is where you check the status of your registered firewall, AV, and other security tools. It does nothing protective on it's own. You only mention that it says it has a problem but you don't indicate what error message it gives you.

Also, since Windows Security Center was removed from 7 (and I believe Vista as well) if you are running one of those it is almost certainly a virus masquerading as the security center.

P.S: it's practically illegal for Microsoft's "Right hand" to know what it's "left hand" is doing. MSE cannot- and does not- do anything that a normal AV program cannot do, integration wise.

[harry 48]

the castle icon is microsofts av before mse , i forget what you call it.

i believe i'm right

[Starwind51]

I have Windows XP.  I had noticed on the Windows Security Center window that is said wsc does not necessarily recognize all av's.  I figured it would recognize it's own product, but I figured wrong.  Anyway I noticed a box you can check to say that you have a working av and will monitor it yourself, so I checked it and my castle is still green, even after restarting because it overheated and snapped off again.

[harry 48]

go here and read about it http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wscintro.mspx

i did have that with xp , as long as you have them all turned on in the above you will have no bother

Windows Security Center is not an AV , its they to check that your security is up to date and working

i think in the end i deleted mine because i new i had security and it was on and up to date

[Starwind51]

Windows Security Center is not an AV

I think the situation is taken care of.  I'll just give it more time to make sure I don't get the red shield again.

[harry 48]

ok , no problem