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Konstantinos Tsoukalas

Konstantinos is the founder and administrator of Wintips.org. Since 1995 he works and provides IT support as a computer and network expert to individuals and large companies. He is specialized in solving problems related to Windows or other Microsoft products (Windows Server, Office, Microsoft 365, etc.).

24 Comments

  1. Norm M.
    January 14, 2018 @ 4:55 am

    I can't say for sure your solution will work for me but after reading the article, it's clear why I don't use Windows. Microsoft's OS forces everyone to become computer techs instead of users.

    That's why I use Linux instead. It's my wife's Windows 10 PC that's messed up so I'm the only one around here qualified to solve computer issues.

    How Microsoft retains customers is still beyond me.

    Reply

  2. Bonnie Lou
    November 11, 2017 @ 7:22 am

    I have genuine Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit HP Compaq Presario Desktop PC. I use IE 11 and Google browser. I have not been able to get my MSE or the AntiMalware Client version 4.10.209.10 to startup when I turn on my pc. The castle icon doesn't show in the system tray and it is not hidden. The notification area is set to always show icon and notifications, but still; I can only run it manually, update it manually, and scan it manually. It use to run automatically, but no longer. I am a NOVICE pc user. So; can you give me step-by-step instructions on how to get my MSE and the Antimalware Client to automatically startup, when I turn on (boot) my pc? NOTE: In System Configuration: msconfig On the General Tab: STARTUP SELECTION: It shows SELECTIVE STARTUP is ON with check marks next to Load System Services and Load Startup Items. Isn't the NORMAL STARTUP suppose to be ON instead? How to fix this? I don't know how to configure. What is to be enabled or disabled and or checked or unchecked. NEED HELP!

    Reply

    • lakonst
      November 11, 2017 @ 11:23 am

      @Bonnie Lou: Press Ctrl+Alt+Del > open Task Manager and select the Processes tab. Is the process "MsMpEng.exe" listed there? Also at "Service" tab is the "MsMpSvc" running? If yes, then the "Security Essentials" is working properly.
      If you don't see the process "MsMpEng.exe" or the service "MsMpSvc" is not running, make sure that you have not installed another antivirus/security software on your machine and also check your computer for virus and malware by using the steps in this guide: https://www.wintips.org/quick-malware-check-removal-guide/
      p.s. Yes the Startup should be Normal. If not, check the Normal and reboot.

      Reply

  3. ldg
    April 30, 2017 @ 12:39 am

    AWESOME – simple enough that even this non-technically-gifted numpty could follow yr advice & the CPU usage dropped like a stone – hope ive cracked it, if not then i know where to come looking for help!

    Reply

  4. siedelbe
    December 20, 2016 @ 10:03 am

    I found this article very informative, but did not include a solution for me. I was just about to forget about MSE and just purchase the Malwarebytes stuff, but being an old Unix hacker, decided to dig deeper. The task manager resource display was very helpful. It showed that there were a lot of file access activity by the process reading several very large archive files I brought over from Unix. They were zipped tar files (.gtz), .zip and .tar files. So I moved them all to a unix dir and mapped that dir out in the settings. Much better, but not fully fixed. I still had to also map out the MpMsEng.exe file as well. After a reboot, things look great now

    Reply

  5. Deb
    July 20, 2016 @ 10:30 pm

    Another possibility is to exclude mapped drives in Solution 3, Step 3.
    I have 6 mapped drives that are on my C: drive and, because they could be excluded, I suspect that each is scanned as a mapped drive as well as when the C: drive is scanned.
    A full scan has been going on for >60 hours. It is working on the Z: drive now, which is a separate drive, so I don't want to stop it to see if excluding those 6 mapped drives would make a difference.

    Reply

  6. TJ
    May 20, 2016 @ 10:25 pm

    Use to be a good product. Now it is trashy.

    Reply

  7. Barbara
    May 14, 2016 @ 4:01 pm

    Where do you find Microsoft security essentials on windows 10????????

    Reply

    • lakonst
      May 15, 2016 @ 8:59 am

      @Barbara: On Windows 10 "Security Essentials" is renamed as "Windows Defender". Open Cortana and type Defender to find it.

      Reply

  8. Emjay
    January 22, 2016 @ 11:37 am

    Omg omg thank you so much. I have shared the link to facey. I will be doing a couple of the extra steps even though solution 1 has helped a lot just in case it crops up again. When I have a little money to spare I will donate to you :) wonderful advice. Thank you again.

    Reply

  9. Leonia
    December 17, 2015 @ 4:48 pm

    Hey, thanks! I didn't do the MalwareBytes anti-malware scans etc. yet, but I did do just one of your suggestion and it already made an immediate and huge difference! All I did was the suggestion to exclude MsMpEng.exe from the scanned files, and the MsMpEng.exe process CPU usage went way down. I am still using Windows XP (not for too much longer) which I know MSE no longer supports, so I didn't want to try uninstalling and re-installing MSE at this time.

    But again, thanks for the suggestions.

    Reply

  10. Ahmed
    August 12, 2015 @ 9:44 pm

    Um I dont really want to install those programs so how do i do it?

    Reply

    • lakonst
      August 15, 2015 @ 11:19 am

      @Ahmed: Skip the 1st Solution and follow the others.

      Reply

  11. Lee Kerry
    July 4, 2015 @ 1:24 pm

    Thanks for such spot on advise.
    So welcoming to have a responsive PC running again.
    I did have a bit of a red herring chasing intially what I thought was an issue with WmiPrvSE.exe. However, perserverance paid off after finding your site and dealing with the errant MsMpEng.exe.
    It also gave me the incentive to have a real tidy up, bite the bullet & clear out some old utils I have used very successfully in the past, but at the end of the day utils are helpful but as long as you know where to look and not tread you should get by with the MS basics and dogged determination.
    My CPU still appears to be running a tad high though, so I think I'll reinstall altogethher MS Sec Essentials.
    Once again thanks for your help and hope the small donatioin helps you too.

    Reply

  12. Daniel Vining
    June 21, 2015 @ 7:46 am

    Oh I see didn't run in save mode w/ networking

    Reply

  13. Daniel Vining
    June 21, 2015 @ 7:40 am

    Rougekiller was running then ¾ of the way through it blue screen shutdown on me.

    Reply

  14. Robert
    March 30, 2015 @ 8:02 pm

    All you did was handicap MSE. It was slow, because your computer is slow. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but you shouldn't blame MSE for your slow computer.

    Reply

  15. Ayca
    January 22, 2015 @ 7:38 pm

    Thanks a lot!
    This completely fixed my problem… My Vaio is not working loudly anymore.

    Reply

    • Madhan raj m
      September 8, 2016 @ 7:30 pm

      Thanks a lot!

      Reply

  16. Chrissy
    December 21, 2014 @ 5:03 am

    I'm having this issue, but MSE does not appear to be installed (not listed in my control panel uninstall programs list), even though the executable has several (obnoxious) instances running? I'm using Windows 8 — Have they made changes that you know of? I also tried the Windows FixIt utility mentioned above, but it is saying that it does not apply to my OS.

    Reply

    • lakonst
      December 21, 2014 @ 12:29 pm

      @Chrissy: In Windows 8, MSE was renamed to Windows Defender. So, press simultaneously the 'Windows' + 'Q' keys and at the search box type 'Windows Defender'. Then make the appropriate changes mentioned here (to Windows Defender).

      Reply

  17. Will Latinette
    November 13, 2014 @ 10:32 am

    The option to set scan times (Solution 4, step 1) is not available in Win 8 Windows Defender.
    I did all you recommended, hope it works long term- it has for now.
    Thanks anyway- this was the most help I found anywhere- Microsoft's instructions are just a maze of misleading, outdated, confused nonsense. Bottom line: this sort of problem should never happen- it should monitor itself as to how much it runs and know it's not going to be acceptable to use 30-50% of a machine's CPU for a long period. Bad design.

    Reply

  18. David Goan
    October 18, 2014 @ 11:42 pm

    Aloha,
    Used your instructions "How to fix MsMpEng.exe High CPU Usage problem" and it solved my issue. Thank You! I'd like to contribute but I'm cautious using my credentials on your web site. I have a PayPal account and would like to send you a donation. Please give me you email address to use with PayPal.
    Mahalo,
    David

    Reply

    • lakonst
      October 19, 2014 @ 9:23 am

      Welcome David, If you want to contribute just click the "Donate" button at the end of the article. (The transaction procedure is made through PayPal, so is secure). Thanks!

      Reply

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