How to Troubleshoot Msmpeng.Exe Files
Msmpeng.exe is a file used by the Microsoft Security Essentials application. This file allows the program to detect most forms of malware lurking on your computer. If Msmpeng.exe begins consuming substantial resources, the problem might lie with a corrupted Microsoft Security Essentials installation or a conflict between other applications or services. Basic troubleshooting steps can help resolve the problem.
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Instructions
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Stop other antivirus software programs running on your PC along with Microsoft Security Essentials. Conflicts between antivirus programs can cause the Msmpeng.exe file to consume system resources. Right-click the icon of an antivirus application on the system tray and select “Pause” or “Exit” to stop it. If this does not resolve the issue, completely uninstall all antivirus applications except Microsoft Security Essentials.
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Remove and reinstall Microsoft Security Essentials. Msmpeng.exe will malfunction if the Microsoft Security Essentials installation is corrupted, and reinstalling it will restore the application to functionality. You can remove Microsoft Security Essentials from the Control Panel in Windows 7 and then reinstall it from the Microsoft website.
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Configure Microsoft Security Essentials so that it does not start automatically when your PC boots. This will prevent Msmpeng.exe from consuming CPU resources, and it will eliminate conflicts with other services during the boot cycle. Click “Start,” type “services.msc” in the search box and press “Enter.” Double-click “Microsoft Security Essentials.” Set the “Startup Type” to “Manual” under the General tab and click “Apply.” Microsoft Security Essentials will no longer auto-start, but you can manually run the application whenever you want.
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