MSERT For Wndows 10

Question

There were issues running a complete scan of MSERT not finishing the scan in Windows 10. Has MSERT been debuged so that I can now run a full scan?

Answer 1

Hello

Did you run an old one that was downloaded some time ago? Please download from here.

https://learn.microsoft.com/defender-endpoint/safety-scanner-download

Download the 64-bit version, run a full scan, make sure internet is connected the whole time as it is required, especially at the end, to verify the potential findings with the online database.

Answer 2

MSERT itself has not been described in the context as having a specific bug that prevents full scans from completing, nor as having a new “debugged” version that fixes such an issue.

However, if a Microsoft malware scan (including MSERT or other Microsoft anti‑malware tools) does not complete or appears to hang, the supported guidance is to troubleshoot the environment rather than wait for a new tool version:

1. Ensure there is enough free disk space, especially on the system drive (usually C:). Microsoft Defender and related tools require disk space to quarantine and remove malware. If space is low, free up space and then run the scan again.
2. Close non‑essential applications before starting the scan so that CPU and memory are available. For best results, restart the PC and run the scan immediately before opening other apps.
3. If the scan fails with an error code, open the MSERT log and match the error code to the documented causes and resolutions:
   • Open %systemroot%\debug (typically C:\Windows\debug).
   • Open the msert log file.
   • Find the error code (usually starting with 0x) and follow the documented action, for example:
     • 0x80508019: Change the scan destination file or drive.
     • 0x80508007: Download the Microsoft Safety Scanner again.
     • 0x8050800C: Restart the computer and retry the scan.
     • 0x8050A005, 0x8050A002: Download the Microsoft Safety Scanner again.
4. If scans still take very long, note that full scans can legitimately take hours on large disks or when many large/archive files (such as ZIPs) are present.

Running through these steps is the supported way to get a full scan to complete on Windows 10 rather than relying on a specific “debugged” release.

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References:

• How to troubleshoot an error when you run the Microsoft Safety Scanner
• Troubleshoot problems with detecting and removing malware
• Antivirus and antimalware software: FAQ
• How to troubleshoot an error when you run the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
• Remove specific prevalent malware with Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (KB890830)