In order to install the update, i had to run it manually with these customizations in place. Essentially the update is failing to install because it is not being run in compatibility mode for Windows 7, or with the /disableoslimit flag via Windows update causing it to fail. I looked through this Microsoft Security Essentials installation guide, and i have noticed that error 8004FF04 came up there as well. This makes sense as technically Microsoft Security Essentials does not support Windows Server 2012 R2, we installed it with some slight customizations which we need to do again during the update. The problem begins when trying to install this update, as shown the update fails and results in error code 8004FF04, simply meaning that the update does not support this version of the operating system.

Take note that this particular update is 9.2MB in size, this will be important later on. November 2016 and was an update for Microsoft Security Essentials, version 4.10.209.0 to be exact as shown below. Updating Microsoft Security EssentialsĪfter running Windows update it found KB3205972 which came out 29.

This post is aimed toward those that have knowingly installed Microsoft Security Essentials on an unsupported operating system such as Windows Server 2012 R2 and want to update it. After performing a Windows update on Windows Server 2012 R2 it failed to install with error 0x8004FF04.Ī note to Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 users receiving this error for a Microsoft Security Essentials update: The built-in Windows Defender replaces Microsoft Security Essentials, if you have previously installed Microsoft Security Essentials but updated your operating system version it may no longer be supported and it should be safe to uninstall as Defender has taken over.

Windows security essential