We recently ran into a situation where we had a Windows 2012 R2 server with Microsoft Security Essentials installed on it (from a few years ago), and now with a recent Windows Update – the Windows update will not install because MSE is no longer compatible with this OS.

The issue is that you can not uninstall MSE via the standard “add/remove” programs.  When that is attempted I get the following error:

Error Code: 0x8004FF04

At that point you’re dead in the water and can’t remove MSE.

Here’s the EASY fix:

go to

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client

and RIGHT CLICK on Setup.exe

Go to Compatibility, check it and change to WIN 7.

Bring up a command prompt

Type in:

“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Setup.exe” /disableoslimit /u

This will bring up MSE and at this point you will see an “uninstall” button.

Click Uninstall and remove it!