Microsoft Security Essentials 4.5.216.0 Windows XP Red Box Solution

Ok ive been asked this over and over again so i figured id share a little info on this
so your still using xp as PosReady but the MSE pop up is driving you mad?

So.. how about this...

1) you have  4.5.216.0 installed and its Red and the pop up box is driving you mad
Solution, download the one thats on the MS site here OR from filehippo  here then right click the exe and extract it (7zip or winrar will let you do that)  then go into the   x86   folder  and  right click on the file called  epp.msi   and select extract to here,    now open the folder to microsoft security essentials (so its ready to access, normally C:\Program files\Microsoft security client)  now go back in the folder you extracted to, look for a file called    msseces.exe    and right click on it and select CUT   now right click on your task bar and select task manager.. end task on the process called    msseces.exe  then right click on the program files version of the folder & paste (replacing the file) and then re-open MSE from your start menu.
Notice when you go to the little drop down you still have the latest scan engine, malware engine and program version (so windows update WONT downgrade you)  ;)


2) you have the version thats green or red, but is older than 4.5.216.0
Solution, first (if your outdated MSE is still green ut an older scan engine) Make a copy of the file called  msseces.exe because you know that works :)   If its not green, follow the steps above to get access to a clean & green  msseces.exe
 then download Microsoft Security Essentials 4.5.216.0 (if you google good enough you'll find it)
Once you have installed  4.5.216.0, do the end task and put the  older  msseces.exe in the folder (as descriptive in the 1st option above.  And again as above, check the about to see its the new version and scan engine.. yet green..

Last but not least.. the REF database AKA viral Pattern file update link is Here 

also note...
even with the red box, you are still protected if it says its "ON" and its "Up To Date" but i know the green monopoly house is more soothing

remove pop up from MSE

Windows XP 9in1 x86 SP2 and SP3

Windows XP dies tomorrow (for basic XP users) So ive been thinking back to all the things i have seen and learnt over the years "regarding windows xp and random releases" From the DevilsOwn to the XP Delta files and it's been a wild ride for the modders and tweakers of this awesome OS.

Once hated by 98SE Lovers and slated to death by Windows 2000 users... I my self thought it looked like a nickelodeon's desk top theme lol. But none the less it gained a following and the varied releases got butchered to hell as all the random gurus jumped at the chance to built the Ultimate XP.

Case in Point...

The Discs SP3 Splash Screen (Not The OS Boot Screen)

This was first released as an SP2 disk with 9 of the favourite flavours of Windows XP by  XiSO way back in March 2003. It was a clean disc featuring Home / Professional / MCE

In Essence it came with all these on one Disk

Windows XP Home OEM with Service Pack2
Windows XP Home Retail with Service Pack2
Windows XP Home Upgrade with Service Pack2
Windows XP Media Center 2005 with Service Pack2
Windows XP Pro Corp with Service Pack2
Windows XP Pro OEM with Service Pack2
Windows XP Pro Retail with Service Pack2
Windows XP Pro Upgrade with Service Pack2

I know that's only 8, not 9 right? but you gotta figure the 2002 MCE is their alongside the 2005 apparently. But then the Tablet CAB is present in places, so maybe its a 10 in one if you know what your doing with keys during install.

This was later released with SP3 integrated in May 2008 by FOX007 as
       Windows.XP.SP3.9in1.DVD_BY_FOX007.iso
who's name oddly rings a bell from WinMX..

Anyways... after being shown the splash screen (when booting from disc)
your presented with the Install Menu to choose an OS

OS Install Selection (from booting from disc)

The Upgrade options are only shown when running setup from within windows its self. Its got some handy extra options from boot, but sadly if you set the machine to Boot from CD it will get stuck on that menu and you'll have to keep ejecting the disk then pushing it back in.

If your machine supports either of the F10, F11 or F12 to select a one time only boot option then i would set the systems bios to boot from the HD and use the defined F key to opt for a one time boot from the dvd (yes this release was a dvd) which begs the question why no extras besides stupid cracks.

We you try to install Windows Media Centre you get a nasty error you cant get past

MCE Media Center ehiEPG.DL_ is Missing

Even the SP3 release spits out the error "Please Insert Windows XP CD2" when attempting to install on certain machines and virtual environments and it first insists on

ehiEPG.DL_    also known as   ehiEPG.DLL

The default browse path its looking within is here
D:\ROOT\XPMI\CMPNENTS\MEDIACTR\I386
(my Drive was E: but regardless, browsing E: didn't show the file) in fact the folder only contains 3 CAB files...

Now even if you went out your way to find it, that elusive DLL, you'll still find 81 Other files are sadly missing...

82 Files in total are missing

  and yet their not.. they are in there, but in a CAB
\ROOT\XPMI\CMPNENTS\MEDIACTR\I386\MEDIACTR.CAB
I am unsure if 007 updated those cabs to SP3 or if they are still SP2, but regardless setup won't continue without ehiEPG.DL_ and if you do give it the file it just looks for more, then actually fails to install the MCE features and gives a setup error during the "installing features part of setup".

 What could you do to fix this?

Well if you have the SP3 version of the disk you could download windows XP service pack 3, right click on it and select Extract to WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU

This would make a folder called  WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU  with folders and files inside it, you would then Navigate to

WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU\i386\root\cmpnents\mediactr\i386

Then Copy the 82 Files From Their...  Into Here...
\ROOT\XPMI\CMPNENTS\MEDIACTR\I386\

(or here if your using the 9in1 SP2 release)
extract XP Service Pack 2, and copy the 82 files from here
WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU\i386\root\cmpnents\mediactr\i386

Into Here...
\ROOT\XPMI\CMPNENTS\MEDIACTR\I386\

Be it SP2 or SP3, you may also wish to put the 82 files into here, otherwise i would assume the "Within Windows Upgrade Option will also fail" i would assume, i have yet to test it.
 \ROOT\XPM2\CMPNENTS\MEDIACTR\I386

Rule of thumb is MCE should be an SP2 release, slipstreaming SP3 into it is extremely complicated and can still fail on some systems.

What i never understood about this disk is why it was so big anyway, i mean most the Home Files are the Same as the Professional and the Corporate (aka the vlk) In fact not many files really are different, even worse so the .NET is 1.0 (not 1.1) which makes the addition of Rollup2 complicated.  A setupcomplete file should of checked for MCE and installed .NET 1.1 SP1 or at the very least the updates for .NET 1.0 SP3

An interesting attempt for sure, but lacking some easier tasks really.. considering the work that clearly went into it... but the update to SP3 pretty much killed its MCE side..

Additional Notes:

Main reasons a user ends up with "Professional" instead of "MCE" is they used a Professional product key which can install the PRO side of MCE  but wont install any of the media centre functionality...

Preparing For The End Of Microsoft Windows XP

OLD POST,  IF YOU MISSED THIS BOAT THEN KEEP AN EYE  ON THIS POST HERE

Are you ready for the End?,  It's coming and im sure i am not the only one dreading being stuck on windows 7  (that's a gripe for those of us who understand that Vista & Windows 8 Are Rubbish)

 I My Self will be Keeping a few XP Machines for my music & video work, im not some multi millionaire who can just replace all his hardware because microsoft are sick of plugging holes in xp...

That said windows xp was due to be stopped a while ago, only Vista failed to take off so microsoft extended the Xp Home Edition life cycle to match that of xp media centre 2005 along with the xp pro and xp corp editions.

For many people (if they end up having to format their xp systems down the line) are going to have problems finding files and programs, especially such things as 3rd party runtime files that companies never want you to actually have the full installer for.. the likes of Shockwave, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Flash Player, Java, these things that seam to be "Internet Only" software, And Yet Many Many Programs you install say "WE REQUIRE THIS"   So just where are you then going to get this and that the next time you wish to set up a windows XP Computer or LapTop...  let alone how to activate an OEM version on possibly a none OEM board.  You can read about how to legally activate windows XP WHILE OFF LINE  here on my blog soon.

NOTE:
Any retarded comments such as "why use XP for anything"  you either have more money than sense, or the most advanced software you use is Facebook and iTunes....  There Are MANY REASONS as to why people need Windows XP..   you'll be deleted trying to troll here...

Ber In Mind XP Is Made Redundant On April 14th, so you don't really have that long to pre-pair your self (to take stock & stock up on the things you are going to need for any future XP Instillations)

As many sites use little STUB Installers (that download extra components)
you need to get your hands on the FULL Installers, this can be very tricky with certain companies...
So HERE i shall make it easier by providing some Direct Download Links and Direct Page Links...

Adobe Acrobat Reader 11.0.06
Adobe Shockwave 12.0.7.148
Adobe Flash Player 12.0.0.38 Internet Explorer
Adobe Flash Player 12.0.0.43 Other Browsers
Java Runtime 7.51
QuickTime 7.7.5
iTunes 11.1.5
WinAmp
VLC Media Player 2.1.3

Why Flash?, some programs need it, some programs have their own browser to show their HTML based help system (so a programs help system may not work without "both" versions of flash installed)

Q) Are These The Latest? Or Why Are These Not The Latest Versions?
A) Your Concern Here Is These ARE COMPATIBLE Versions For XP

Q) How Can I Update The Windows XP Operating System It's Self After I Install It?
A) Windows Off Line Updater...   Download THIS if you need any EXTRA help check out their forum
(this things important, so ide move your self on this whole issue.. APRIL 14...)

Q) How Do I Use This To Update Windows
A) Follow Instructions Below

1) Download the file
2) Right Click on it and select Extract
3) Best Place To Run This Would Be On An External Drive
4) Run The File Called   apup.exe
5) Select Windows XP SP3 (in your preferred language)
6) Select Anything Else That Takes Your Fancy
7) More You Pick, More Drive Space It'll Take
8) Any Errors, Let It Finish, Exit, Re-Open and Go Again

Recommendations To Get?
1) XP SP3 x86 in your language
2) what ever Office you use (if it needs activating, ide not bother)
3) adobe, java, directX, reg tweeks, other apps
4) avoid security stuff, it wont work or update after april 14 so why bother
5) Burn to a DVD, insert after windows install and run  autopatcher.exe
6) DON'T USE THIS ON A SYSTEM ALREADY IN USE
IE: you use this disk on a CLEAN XP Install
7) Some Updated's Can NOT Be Seen In Auto Patcher, Until They Are Needed, So After Using The DVD and Rebooting, Use The DVD Again until it says ALL Updates Are Done... IE you wont see .NET updates until .NET is in, as like wise with media player 11 and internet explorer 8.0.. yes you update them...
IE some apps require your browsers "RunTime Files are up to date" whether you use the browser or not is irrelevant to what soem of your programs need.
(remember this is for stability.. we are NOT endorsing you keep using XP as an Online Computer)

Microsoft Security Essentials "Pattern Files"
    WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE
(until July 14th 2015 to help you scan your XP Systems,  see links above)
For help updating MSE and Enabling After July, read here

XP Updates for the Government Will Continue Until 2019
(if you have a PosReady Windows XP you CAN Still Update)

I Will Update This Post As Time Passes, So Check Back...

Some OLD software you can always get from a website http://www.oldversion.com
(they also have ShareWare software, but you'll need your OWN serial numbers, they don't do piracy, they just host old software both free and retail, they do NOT provide serials or cracks)

You need to start making sure you have these programmes that you use, some people click RUN rather than Save As on websites, even if you save as, unless you burnt them programs to a disk or placed them on a back up drive, then your xp system is gona cost you serious cash and time trying to restore it back to how you used it and with the things you had on it.

Their will be a post soon about Activating Windows Off Line (which can be done by using the right windows XP for your computer) for many of you this will be going from XP PRO back down to XP Home, I am sure how ever your reasons of still using it, a pro version will be generally be irrelevant, and you Can legally activate home offline & download it from Microsoft tech net centres as an OEM disk image, I wont go to deep into it here as its about runtime and software in this post, but i am not helping with piracy, i only use legal methods.... and will cover activating the OS in a different post and then link to it here..
main concern is if Office needs activating that requires an online connection and i can assure you that "Office XP"  expires also on the 14th of april.  Google search for "Microsoft Office Life Cycle" 

AutoPatcher will Update Home, MCE and PRO, Corp, so ide not worry about that... just incase their was any concerns this updater would force activation, installing WAG Updates from it is the users choice, each update is optional. Note this doesn't support PosReady updates sadly.

Another good alternative would be "Norton Ghost" that can "Clone" an exact drive onto another drive, so everything is good to go, but that drive is only going to work in that specific PC (hardware drivers and blue screen, if plugged into a different machine and activation issues of software and OS) and don't be fooled buying 2 of the exact same pc's unless they where "Specifically Built To Your Specifications" not all that look the same have the same parts inside even with consecutive serials, internal stuff can still be same spec, different manufacture = different driver...

Xp Systems Make Ok Game Systems, Juke Boxes, Storage Machines, 4 HD's instead of CD/DVD Drives, and them systems will be going very cheep soon, those that can't take more than 1GB of ram will be redundant to many people, yet will be a god send to others...

Also check out iObitt Game Booster, can cut down on running processes that are no longer needed
(remember when windows98 and Millennium were NOT a network OS)

 So For Now... Happy Hunting... Check Bk For Edits... and new posts
this should be enough to get you up and running for now....

PS
Please Don't Copy My Work Then Link To Me... Just Link To Me...

If your using Auto Patcher for windows update you may of noticed a bizarre and very vague message
saying....  Switch Your Apup to www.autopatcher.net/releases.list

To Fix This Click On "OPTIONS"

Change That Highlighted Web Address From .com  To  .net

And You Will Get Your List back

FROM
http://www.autopatcher.com/releases.list

INTO
http://www.autopatcher.net/releases.list

Why not just use SP4 ?
Because SP4 is not a legal or official release, it has components not intended to be installed onto windows XP.

This blog remember is for Legal aspects of keeping XP Legal.

Windows XP Service Pack 3

Windows XP Service Pack 3

Service pack 3 was Signed and Released on the 4th of August 2008

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Properties

This service pack was the last official XP service pack release. You can get the SP3 WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe update  here.   To obtain earlier SP packs see the XP Archive page here.

It is important to note that this release requires atleast SP1, SP1a or SP2 installed before you can install SP3.

Please link to our Page and not our Files.

How Can You Tell What Your Windows XP CD Really Is?

I'm often asked this question of

i have a windows xp cd but how do i tell what the disk is?
or, I know its xp professional or xp home but what service pack is it?

Maybe your looking to Slipstream it, or just Identify the right type of product key or oem for it and here are some clues to Identify a Windows XP Product Source (by hand & eyes)

To Identify The Windows XP Service Pack Level?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sadly the readme doesn't give any information regarding the disks "Service Pack Level"
But you can Browse the disk root and look for the .SP? file.

Windows XP Home (with NO service pack) Example

Note This Lacks An SP File

 Windows XP Home (with service pack 1) Example

This Contains An SP File

 Windows XP Home (with service pack 2) Example

This Contains An SP File

As you can see, the disks with a service pack built in contain an SP file as its extension and the number marks its SP level.

It is rumoured that if you have ALL the SP files in the root of the install disk that an SP3 disk can be used to recover an SP0, SP1, SP1a, SP2 and SP3 machines initial installation. I have yet to have to test this theory as i fix them without having to wipe them, but i would assume its in relation to the setup.exe having access to ALL those files.

So your disk will either have a file Ending in .SP1, .SP2 .SP3 or it wont have any file with a .SP*

Note you probably wont have ALL the files our images show, but you hopefully will have at least 1 specific one we circle in at least 1 image (if not, go to control panel, folder options, view) and turn On show hidden files and turn Off hide extensions for known file types and then  re-browse the Root of the Disc again to make sure your seeing all the files.

How Do I Define Between Xp Home and Xp Professional ?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This will require browsing a little deeper into the disks i386 folder and looking for 2 specific files right next to each other
(Windows XP Home) doesn't come with taskkill.exe OR tasklist.exe

Remember though, as we are browsing an UN-installed source!
we are looking for   taskkill.ex_  and  tasklist.ex_
Until setup expands files, their extensions often end in an underscore _


How Do I Define Between OEM or VLK ?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you have taskkill.ex_ then your certainly running a version of Professional at its core, But the dressing around this could not simply just be XP Professional or XP Corporate, It could also be Windows XP Media Centre 2002 or Windows XP Media Centre 2005, often known as MCE Edition IF it consists of 2 CD's or a Single DVD.

If you have located both taskkill.ex_ and tasklist.ex_   in the disc/iso  i386 folder
CD PATH :\i386\TASKKILL.EX_
CD PATH :\i386\TASKLIST.EX_

 then the next thing to look for is to see if it has OEM information here
CD PATH :\i386\SETUPP.INI

Open that  .INI file  "with notepad" and you'll see something similar to this PID

Pid=55277OEM

 If it says OEM, then Corporate comes off the list (as that is VLK, not OEM)
In turn this source also contains the four OEM files and possibly branding information & decals.

How Do I No If My XP Professional OEM Is Really Just MCE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If its a Single CD, then its actually just windows XP Professional (oem)
What happens is, if you install XP Professional "using a media centre product key" then after windows is installed it asks you for CD 2 which features the MCE content.

SO, if you only have one CD, you'd have to use a Pro OEM or Pro Retail / Sticker key
IF its a DVD (and you know the source is clean) as in, its to big for a CD but clean, then its the full MCE.    by clean.. I mean.. no NFO files, driver packs, no links to sites, no WAG cracks and serial text files. Just an xp source that is two big for a single  700MB CD and you have a DVD or ISO over 800mb of data.


Now you should be able to work out just what a back up x86 XP Disc really is under the hood

How to tell what version an x64 Windows XP Disk Is?
pretty much the same only your looking in the AMD64 folder rather than the i386, also remember x64 XP had NO service pack 3... Nor can you get an SP0 disk, x64 First Release was SP1a really

Be it x86 or x64, if its an OEM disc it'll also contain these files 4 OEM files regardless of any other branding OEM's folders...

the FOUR files within the i386 folder (on OEM discs) you can change these 4 files for the specific OEM machine it'll be installed on.

OEMBIOS.CA_
OEMBIOS.SI_
OEMBIOS.DA_
OEMBIOS.BI_

when Expanded (not renamed, must be expanded by a command prompt)
they are  .cat   .sig  .bin and .dat
which can be scanned by various bios and oem tools to even identify the manufacture.

expand example (AKA Decompress)

expand d:\i386\OEMBIOS.CA_ c:\BiosTest\SetOne /y

expand d:\i386\OEMBIOS.SI_ c:\BiosTest\SetOne /y

expand d:\i386\OEMBIOS.DA_ c:\BiosTest\SetOne /y

expand d:\i386\OEMBIOS.BI_ c:\BiosTest\SetOne /y  

 

Some Random DISC ID's
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some of these are the ISO name and Disc Label

x86 {32bit Versions}
x14-92386.iso = GRTMHKFPP_EN Home K (SP3) x86 EN-US Retail / OEM Pid=76477000
x14-92388.iso = GRTMHKNFPP_EN Home KN (SP3) x86 EN-US Retail / OEM Pid=76477000
x14-92393.iso = GRTMHRMFPP_EN Home N (SP3) x86 EN-US Retail / OEM Pid=76477000
x14-_OEM_.iso = GRTMHOEM_EN Home (SP3) x86 EN-US OEM Pid=76477OEM
x14-92413.iso = GRTMHFPP_EN Home (SP3) x86 EN-US Retail / OEM Pid=76477000
x14-92430.iso = GRTMPKFPP_EN PRO K (SP3) x86 EN-US Retail / OEM Pid=76487000
x14-92432.iso = GRTMPKNFPP_EN PRO KN SP3) x86 EN-US Retail / OEM Pid=76487000
x14-78118.iso = GRTMPRMVOL_EN PRO N (SP3) x86 EN-US VLK Pid=76487270
x14-92445.iso = GRTMPRMFPP_EN PRO N (SP3) x86 EN-US Retail / OEM Pid=76487000
x14-73974.iso = GRTMPVOL_EN PRO (SP3) x86 EN-US VLK Pid=76487270
x14-_OEM.iso = GRTMPOEM_EN PRO (SP3) x86 EN-US OEM Pid=76487OEM
x14-80428.iso = GRTMPFPP_EN PRO (SP3) x86 EN-US Retail / OEM Pid=76487000
x14-74003.iso = GRTMPVOL_PL PRO (SP3) x86 PL-PL  VLK Pid=????
DELL_XP_HOME_SP3_20080911.iso x86 EN-US OEM / Branded Pid=76477OEM
DELL_XP_HOME_SP3_20090829.iso x86 EN-US OEM / Branded Pid=76477OEM
DELL_XP_PRO_SP3_20080819.iso x86 EN-US OEM / Branded Pid=76487OEM
DELL_XP_PRO_SP3_20090819.iso EN-US OEM / Branded Pid=76487OEM
MRMPFPP_EN.iso Media Center Edition 2005 and XP Tablet CD1 EN-US Retail Pid=76487000
MRMSD2_EN.iso Media Center Edition 2005 and XP Tablet CD2 EN-US Retail
MRMPINT_EN.iso MCE 2005 and XP Tablet CD1 and 2  EN-US Retail Pid=76487000
XPSP2.9IN1.EN.iso = Home, PRO, CORP, MCE EN-US Retail / OEM / VLK Pid=???????
XPSP3.9IN1.EN.iso = Home, PRO, CORP, MCE EN-US Retail / OEM / VLK Pid=???????


x64 {64bit Versions}
ARMPXVOL_EN.iso = XP PRO x64 (no service pack)  EN-US VLK Pid=76588270
CRMPXVOL_EN.iso = XP PPRO x64 (SP2)  EN-US VLK Pid=76588270
CRMPXFPP_EN.iso = XP PRO x64 (SP2) EN-US Retail / OEM Pid=76588000
CRMPXOEM_EN.iso = XP PPRO x64 (SP2)  EN-US OEM Pid=76588OEM
DELL_X64_X64_SP2.iso XP PRO x64 (SP2)  EN-US OEM / Branded Pid=76588OEM
 
Windows XP Serial Number Basics
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Will x86 (32bit) Serial Numbers / Product Keys work on x64 (64bit) = NO
 only vista, 7, 8, 8.1 & 10 product keys span across architectures

Will a basic SP0 serial work on an SP2 Disk?, Normally NO, you see SP0 was entitled to SP1 and SP1a,  but  SP2 brought many new features (although an SP0 Install can often upgrade to SP2 and sometimes SP3 via windows update) Some actual SP0 keys wont allow SP3 or MP11.  An SP2 key seams the most useful because it'll work on SP2 & SP3 discs and some folks prefer SP2 for DRM manipulation.

Will my SP0, SP1, SP1a, SP2 or SP3 key work on a disk if i slip stream it?
If your source disk is what your key is for then yes, IE, You can slip an SP0 all the way to SP3 and use your SP0 key.. you Can Not use an SP2 or SP3 key just because you turned an sp0, sp1 or sp1a cd into sp2 or sp3..

Post Last Updated April 8th 2014