Loading...

Knowledge Center

How to manually update the DAT files for VirusScan Enterprise 8.x
Technical Articles ID:   KB51679
Last Modified:  4/13/2018
Rated:

Environment

McAfee VirusScan Enterprise (VSE) 8.x
McAfee DAT files (V2 Virus Definition Updates)

For details of VSE supported environments, see KB51111.

Summary

Sometimes it is necessary to manually update the DAT files for VirusScan Enterprise. For example, when a Scheduled AutoUpdate fails or when running a SuperDAT file.

Solution

To manually update the DAT files for VirusScan Enterprise 8.8:
  1. Obtain the latest DAT files:
    1. Using Windows Explorer, create a temporary folder C:\DAT.
    2. Download the latest DAT. To download a DAT, Engine, XDAT, or Stinger file, go to https://www.mcafee.com/enterprise/en-us/downloads/security-updates.html.

      You might need to download these files if your automated update fails, or if you want to use an Extra.DAT on an infected system.
    3. Download ####xdat.exe (where #### is the latest DAT version). Example: 7123xdat.exe
  1. Allow changes to McAfee services:
    1. Click Start, Programs, McAfee, VirusScan Console.
    2. Double-click Access Protection, deselect Prevent McAfee services from being stopped, and click OK.
    3. Exit the VirusScan Console.
  1. Stop McAfee services:
    1. Click Start, Run, type services.msc, then press ENTER.
    2. Right-click each of the following services and select Stop:
       
      • McAfee McShield
      • McAfee Framework
         
    3. Exit the Services screen.
  1. Extract the DAT file:
    1. Using WinZip or a similar file compression utility, extract the DAT file. For example: avvdat-7123.zip.
    2. Hold the CTRL key and select the following extracted files:
      • avvclean.dat
      • avvnames.dat
      • avvscan.dat
         
    3. Right-click on one of the selected files and click Copy.
    4. Browse to C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\Engine.
    5. Right-click the Engine directory and select Paste.
    6. When prompted to replace the existing files, select Yes to All.
  1. Restart McAfee services: 
    1. Click Start, Run, type services.msc, then press ENTER.
    2. Right-click each of the services below and select Start:

      McAfee McShield
      McAfee Framework
       
    3. Exit the Services screen.
       
  2. Verify the DAT version has been updated: 
    1. Click Start, Programs, McAfee, and select VirusScan Console.
    2. Click Help, About.

      The virus definitions will now indicate that the latest DAT version is installed.
     
  3. Prevent changes to McAfee services: 
    1. Click Start, Programs, McAfee, VirusScan Console.
    2. Double-click Access Protection, select Prevent McAfee services from being stopped, and click OK.
    3. Exit the VirusScan Console.

Related Information

For more information about WinZip, see KB72766.

Rate this document

Affected Products


VirusScan Enterprise 8.8

Beta Translate with

Select a desired language below to translate this page.

Glossary of Technical Terms


 Highlight Glossary Terms

Please take a moment to browse our Glossary of Technical Terms.