*The Malicious Software Removal Tool will continue to be provided for Windows XP through July 14, 2015; it will also continue to be delivered automatically via Windows Update and for download via the Download Center.

Try downloading it an see

https://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/malware-removal.aspx

Looks this like the forum is having some issues...

Thanks Zep. I never had a problem before and I did try the MS website. I'll try your link and see if it is different.

Jane

No luck. When I click 'run' it begins with a screen 'extracting files' then quickly goes away.

Here's another strange thing. When I download, I have my downloads set to go to my desktop. It never appears there. I have to go to Firefoxs download Folder to try to run it.

I checked my Windows download folder and it doesn't appear there.

When I told it to Save to my desktop, a window came up saying there was already one there did I want to replace. I clicked yes.

It has never appeared anywhere except the Firefox download folder. I've been trying to get this installed for weeks. It never goes to Windows folder or my desktop. When I run it from FF, it wont install.

Maybe I it has something to do with IE? I don't use it because it hasn't been updated for over a year.

Jane

Jane...when using FF and the folder is listed under FF Downloads...do you click on it there and opt to open the location where the file folder is...or just try to download it from there? The language I'm using isn't exactly verbatim...but the point I'm getting at is that it should offer you the option to take you to your Computer page where there's a folder labeled Downloads. Click on that option rather than any other. If you elect this method...the Malicious Software Removal Tool file should be hi-lighted in your Downloads folder and there you can click Open. It should then download 100% from your systems Download folder. FF...for some unknown reason...never will save to Desktop like MS tools will. It never did for me and I'm using Win 7.1.

HTH

Thanks Anne. No it gives me no options in Firefox folder when I open it. I tried copying it and it won't copy. I can't run it through Firefox, yet it does not show up anywhere else.

Have you tried in Safe Mode or disabled all of your security software before downloading? I would search for the invisible downloaded file, remove it and then reboot before attempting the download again.

How long has it been since you refreshed Firefox? This disables all of your plugins and Add ons returns Firefox to it's default state. I absolutely recommend making a list of the Add Ons that you will need to enable again. Refresh is found in Troubleshooting Information in the Firefox Help Menu.

What version of FF are you using? In v.39 under Tools > Options...it brings up the FF General Page on which is "Downloads"...which gives the option of "Save Files To:"...or "Always Ask". I have Save Files to Downloads. Under previous versions of FF...the same option is offered but I can't remember on which page. I've always had the same choice so it just copies from one FF version to the next. :-) When a file is saved to FF download "waiting" area...click on it and it should offer the option to open the file in the folder FF saved it to. FF will send you there and then you can open the file and run it.

My only other thought regarding the FF vs IE issue is that the Tool is a MS invention and perhaps unrecognizable by FF. I've never had the experience you're having because it always downloads with my other Win 7 monthly updates and runs with the rest of the "herd" as long as I opt to let it download.

OK There's one other thing you might try. Go to "Check for Updates" in XP and run it. Perhaps it'll spit out the Malicious Software Removal file again and it will run to completion. Beyond that and actually sitting down at your PC...I'm kinda at a loss. Sometimes the weirdest tricks bring success. Try defragging your system and then open/run the Malicious Software Tool. There could be an unseen internal hiccup that's causing all this angst and the defragging might clear it.

Above and beyond all...please let us know if you get it to download and how. I, personally, can't stand an unsolved mystery. :-)

Thank you. I can't get the download to save to my desktop or download folder. Only appears in FF download folder. If I could get it to my computer, I would try to run it in safe mode. Because it only saves to FF, I have to open FF to try to install.

Anne, I'll try the steps you outlined. I've never had a problem before either. It always went in with the other updates.

Those updates went in without a hitch (updates for Office) but the Malicious Software Tool did not and keeps popping up.

Do you have any idea how to get it to download to my computer? Maybe I should change IE to default. I might try that first.

Thanks again, and I will post back.

Jane

Here's a direct link to the file., Jane. Just for my own edification I checked the system requirements for it. It states XP 64 bit edition. Is that what you're running? If not...that might be the problem. Sigh. I don't know why changing IE to default would make any difference. I have FF as my default and haven't run IE [although I keep it updated] in many moons.
There's something else going on here. We just have to keep digging. What version of Office are you running? 2003? 2010? I seem to remember that mine in XP was 32 bit...but it's been a while since I've run XP.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/malicious-software-removal-tool-details.aspx

"*The Malicious Software Removal Tool will continue to be provided for
Windows XP through July 14, 2015; it will also continue to be delivered
automatically via Windows Update and for download via the Download
Center."

I went to Z's MS referral and reread the above poorly written sentence along with much of the page content. Maybe I am missing something here, but could they be saying MSRT for XP was over July, 15 2015, and the MSRT download for other supported versions will continue as identified.?

DA

You're having trouble locating the file after downloading it?

Maybe instead of letting Firefox decide the download location, you decide?

Instead of clicking the download link, right-click and choose "Save Link As...", then in the dialog box, navigate to your desktop(or wherever).

32 bit: http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/A/A/4AA524C6-239D-47FF-860B-5B397199CBF8/Windows-KB890830-V5.26.exe

64 bit: http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/C/5/2C563B99-54D9-4D85-A82B-45D3CD2F53CE/Windows-KB890830-x64-V5.26.exe

Just an idea.

Here's the latest. I decided to make IE default so I could download through IE rather than FF. I do have the latest version of FF

I then went to Windows updates and installed from that site. I got a message that Installation was complete. I was thrilled.

I then put FF back as default as I never use IE. A few hours later the Windows shield popped up in my task bar saying updates were ready to download.

My stomach dropped. Clicked it and sure enough it was the Malicious Software Tool. I tried again and again. Each time it said 'installation complete.' A minute later the shield popped up again. I kept this up for 5 times and it has finally disappeared. I'll restart my computer later to see if it reappears.

I made IE default to install as I was beginning to thing FF was the problem. Richard, I tried many times to copy the file without success. It would not copy.

Anne, I'm hoping going through Windows update sight with IE worked. I'll post back if it pops up again.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

Jane

I think DA might be on to something, if they stopped support July 15, 2015 it probably will not have updates available.

Glad to read that you succeeded in getting it to install...no matter how you did it. :-) That's the important thing. And thanks for telling us.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.

I went to Windows Update website and checked my history. I see 13 attempts to install the Malicious Software Tool and all failed. There are 4 which succeeded, all the same KB #. All took place on Jul 23. So I guess I am well protected.

Zeb, I'm sorry I didn't address your post. When I told the MS Update Website to check for necessary updates, it showed the Malicious Software Tool as necessary and did not say anything about it not being supported.

Keeping my fingers crossed. I just dragged out our Win 8 laptop which has been sitting on the shelf collecting dust for 3 years. Trying to get that going and updated.

I love my XP even more after spending hours trying to navigate Win 8. XP runs like a dream and all my 'stuff' is on it. I just wish MS would get their act together and stop changing their operating systems and forcing you to throw out computers which run perfectly...what a waste of money and time.

Thanks to all again,

Jane

I hate to post back. It still is not installed although Windows Updates shows it was installed 5 times.

Everytime I turn on the computer the shield and balloon pops up saying 'updates are ready for your computer.' I tried Richards links and both (as I'm not sure what bit I have) will not run or install. I'm posting a photo of what happened.

I don't know what else to do. Is it safe to ignore it?

Jane

kb890830 -64-v5.26.exe is not a valid win32 application

To me it looks like you have the 64Bit version and that's not a valid win32 Application. I don't think your XP is a 64Bit machine is it ? All in all I don't think you need to worry about it so much, just make sure your Anti Virus is up to date.

Run the SFC /ScanNow

Don't want to add worry as it seems to be some snafu with the computer .. but, some virus can be smart enough to cause things like the MRT to fail to run, so they don't get caught.

A full scan with some other product might be a good idea.

Thanks Zep and Mikie. I only posted the screen shot of the 64. Tried both and got the same message.

Mikie, I'll give that a try in the morning. When I go to Windows Update and look at history, it shows the Tool was installed successfully 5 times! Yet the balloon keeps popping up.

Thanks so much for helping with such an annoying problem.

Jane

Sorry to see you back with this problem, Jane. Having read that the tool continues to loop...I did an exhaustive search through DuckDuck to see what else could be found to help with the issue. Scannow won't help but Mikie did hit upon the area that needs addressing...MRT. The attached link should give you the solution as it seemed to do so for others having this problem. I don't know how encouraging it is to add...but this looping issue with KB890830 seems to be/have been a prolific problem with many, many users and throughout my search for help for you, in particular, not many users ever did find a correction. The majority agreed that the easiest thing to do was to hide the tool through the update site [which will stop the pop-ups] and ignore it altogether. This site linked below seems to be the only corrective measure that worked. I hope it does so for you, too.

http://www.techtalkz.com/windows-xp/30023-kb890830-malicious-software-removal-tool-wont-install.html

Thanks again, Anne. Didn't get a chance today to do anything but I did read your link on my phone. That post goes back to 2007, eight years ago! Am I the only person having this problem now? Makes me worry a bit.

Anyway, I do have Avast, Spywareblaster and Malwarebytes and everything shows clean. I'll follow Mikes advice to SFC /ScanNow and see what happens. I'll look for another AV and run a scan (any suggestions for a one-time scan).

Everything else works well. Its only this problem and I'm tempted to just stop it from popping up.

Jane

Yes...I know that post goes back away...but it was the only post that offered a successful solution to the looping problem. And...no...you're not the only user currently experiencing the problem. It still exists...right up to v. 8.1...with several posts from users with v.7 and v.7.1 So, you're a member of a popular club...so to speak. Most of the later version users just blocked the tool by electing to hide it. I posted the successful solution link above because if it were me...I'd want to solve the issue. Do a search on your own. I'm sure you'll find the multitude of users complaining about the same issue...including several posted responses from MS which...according to the users seeking a "cure"...were unsuccessful. I don't use Google unless it's absolutely necessary...but I suspect they'll show the same postings that I found.

Good luck with whatever route you elect.

Anne, I use

https://duckduckgo.com/

for searching -- it doesn't track you.

Thank you, beng12. DuckDuck is the only search engine I've used for eons. :-) On rare occasion...when I'm looking for something specific that may need a broader base search...I'll add Google to the list as well as Bing...but it's an extremely rare act.