Member Avatar for thewebhostingdi

I have installed Windows 7 today after that I tried to install McAfee Anti Virus Enterprise Edition 8.5

Windows 7 prompted that this application has known compatibility problems with the application that you are trying to install. Considering this as problematic, I gave up and did not install the AntiVirus. Any one faced this problem and what is the solution?

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Short summary and recommended path forward based on this thread: Windows 7 will flag very old McAfee Enterprise builds (like 8.5) as "known compatibility" problems. Several members here (for example ) reported that 8.5 can still be installed and appear to run, while others (for example and ) saw that Windows Action/ Security Center could not read the antivirus status even when the product was active. The vendor guidance and product release notes make clear that 8.5 is not the supported Windows‑7 client and that later 8.7/8.8 builds (with their repost/patches) are the supported path for Windows 7. (learn.microsoft.com)

If Action Center shows the AV as “off” but McAfee is running, use the vendor workaround before jumping to a different product. McAfee release notes document a supported registry fix: create a REG_DWORD named bUseWscAVExe and set it to 1 under the DesktopProtection key (32‑bit) or the Wow6432Node path (64‑bit), then restart the Windows Security Center service or reboot. Back up the registry first. Example command lines (run elevated command prompt):

:: 32-bit Windows
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\McAfee\DesktopProtection" /v bUseWscAVExe /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

:: 64-bit Windows
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\McAfee\DesktopProtection" /v bUseWscAVExe /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

After editing, restart the wscsvc (Security Center) service or reboot to force Windows to re-query the AV status. Note: modify the registry only if comfortable, and always export the key first. (b2b-download.trellix.com)

Enterprise advice and troubleshooting checklist: upgrade managed clients to a McAfee VSE build specifically listed as compatible for Windows 7 and apply the repost/patch set shown in the release notes; ensure McAfee Agent and ePolicy Orchestrator packages are current before mass deployment; test in a lab image first. If an update causes boot or application failures (as reported by and in this thread), recover using Safe Mode / System Restore and coordinate with vendor support or your imaging team — do not repeatedly force updates on production images without testing. For investigations, verify McAfee services (McShield, mfevtp, McAfee Framework), check Event Viewer and the McAfee logs, and confirm WMI entries under root\SecurityCenter2. (sonicwall.com)

Summary: do not run 8.5 in production on Windows 7 if you can upgrade. If stuck on an older build, the registry workaround and the diagnostic steps above will resolve the common Action Center reporting symptom in most cases, but the long‑term fix is to move to a vendor release explicitly certified for Windows 7 and kept patched.

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All 14 Replies

Member Avatar for goldeagle2005

Yeah, I had the same problem, though this was McAfee Security Center. I switched to Avast and that works fine. I've also tried Norton 2009 - works perfectly.

Member Avatar for murphym

I have installed Windows 7 today after that I tried to install McAfee Anti Virus Enterprise Edition 8.5

Windows 7 prompted that this application has known compatibility problems with the application that you are trying to install. Considering this as problematic, I gave up and did not install the AntiVirus. Any one faced this problem and what is the solution?

We're using McAfee Enterprise 8.7, and we have a similar problem with Windows 7. The antivirus works, but the Windows Security Center can't read the status reports. The error message is attached. The antivirus program is working properly, so I just let it do its thing without worrying whether Windows can talk to it.

I'm not sure if this is the same thing you have with McAfee 8.5, but maybe this will help.

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Member Avatar for thewebhostingdi

I ignored that warning but installed McAfee 8.5. It is not causing any problem. When I manually attempt to update it, it again shows the compatibility problem. I again ignored it and it updated the virus definition.

There is no working problem with McAfee 8.5 on Windows 7.

Member Avatar for atta147

I have installed Windows 7 today after that I tried to install McAfee Anti Virus Enterprise Edition 8.5

Windows 7 prompted that this application has known compatibility problems with the application that you are trying to install. Considering this as problematic, I gave up and did not install the AntiVirus. Any one faced this problem and what is the solution?

hi dare
you have to installa 8.7 i have tray thet and it work

Member Avatar for ragaei

dear all;

current there is a real compability problem between McAfee and windows 7.

so please i need advice about what is the compatible antivirus which work successfuly with windows 7

thanks in advance

Member Avatar for jbennet

Use 8.7 and it will work. Ive got VirusScan enterprise 8.7.0i running on Windows Server 2008 R2 (windows 7 based). 8.7 runs fine. 8.5 does not work on that system.

commented: Hello, just reciprocating rep. Thanks +2
Member Avatar for canuckcorsa

I've got VirusScan enterprise 8.7.0i running on my work PC and Mcafees online access scanner , turned on at reboot, magically turns off some time later. This causes the W7 Action center to issue warning messages and right now the only option is to reboot. Anybody else seen this?

Member Avatar for Adamsappleone

dear all;

current there is a real compability problem between McAfee and windows 7.

so please i need advice about what is the compatible antivirus which work successfuly with windows 7

thanks in advance

Use Avast

Member Avatar for jbennet

Use Avast

Thats not always an option. E.g it is in the TOS of my network that i MUST use thier corp version of McAffee.

Member Avatar for iitmsriram

Use 8.7 and it will work. Ive got VirusScan enterprise 8.7.0i running on Windows Server 2008 R2 (windows 7 based). 8.7 runs fine. 8.5 does not work on that system.

Not quite, 8.7.0i is not fully functional on Win 7. As murphym has noted above, " The antivirus works, but the Windows Security Center can't read the status reports".

Member Avatar for mnyengema

use KASPERSKY Antivirus to solve your problem

dear all;

current there is a real compability problem between McAfee and windows 7.

so please i need advice about what is the compatible antivirus which work successfuly with windows 7

thanks in advance

Member Avatar for Deathblowers

We're using McAfee Enterprise 8.7, and we have a similar problem with Windows 7. The antivirus works, but the Windows Security Center can't read the status reports. The error message is attached. The antivirus program is working properly, so I just let it do its thing without worrying whether Windows can talk to it.

I'm not sure if this is the same thing you have with McAfee 8.5, but maybe this will help.

Member Avatar for orezillions

Yes ,Having the same problem ...intended to resolve the format reporting to windows issues by installing McAfee 2010 Plus ...if I can find the needed CD to uninstall McAfee Enterprise 8.5....8.5 has given adequate security despite the format reporting no longer available...my issue is ie now that I have downloaded and ready to install 2010 ...I am being invaded with the click and crash warning alerts that can freeze a system... ONLY IF YOU CLICK THEM ... so my suggestion is to either leave Enterprise alone and beware of the click and crash security warnings (never clicking them) or install McAfee 2010 for compatibility supported format reporting to Windows .

Member Avatar for Arnieeee

if you use Mcafee antivirus & run Windows7... DO NOT UPDATE mcafee because u may find on restart that u have lost all files, & all programs will cease to work. Remove mcafee and install a freebie like "Antivir" or "AVG". I reported this bug to DELL as my pc is only a few months old & came loaded with mcafee. Dell's reply was to call a premium rate number for help!!
To fix, boot up in safe mode F8, in advanced startup options select repair pc then select restore system (to a time b4 mcafee updated). you may have to restore 2 or 3 times before it runs without errors

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