Frequently Asked Question

If you receive the message "error downloading update file" while updating the virus signature database, it may be due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Interruption or loss of Internet connection
• Data corruption on local drive
• Damaged ESET installation
• Corrupted update server files (Mirror server environment)
• Incompatible update files (using beta ESET product to download from live update server)

To resolve this error, perform the following steps:

To watch a video of the steps below, click here. Please make sure that you have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

1. Verify that your Internet connection is active by visiting ESET's home page.
2. Clear update cache by performing the following steps:
   
   1. Open the main program window by clicking the ESET icon  next to the system clock or by clicking Start ? All Programs ? ESET ? ESET Smart Security or ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
   2. Press F5 to open the Advanced Setup window.
   3. From the Advanced Setup tree, click Update. Then, clear the update cache by clicking Clear....
      
      

      
      
      Fig. 1-1

   4. Click OK and restart your computer.
   5. Open the main program window and click Update ? Update virus signature database.
      
      

      
      
      Fig. 1-2

   6. If you still receive the "Error downloading update file" message, continue to step 3. If not, you are finished.
3. Confirm that you can see hidden files and folders by  clicking Start ? Control Panel ? Appearance and Personalizations ? Show hidden files and folders under Folder Options and select the Show hidden files and folders option.
4. You will need to delete the contents of the Updfiles folder and the Charon folder.
   
   ESET Smart Security:
   
   Windows XP users: Click Start ? My Computer and navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Applications Data\ESET\ESET Smart Security\Updfiles and delete the contents.
   Then, navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Applications Data\ESET\ESET Smart Security\Charon and delete the contents.
   
   Windows Vista users: Click Start ? Computer and navigate to C:\ProgramData\ESET\ESET Smart Security\Updfiles and delete the contents.
   Then, navigate to C:\ProgramData\ESET\ESET Smart Security\Charon and delete the contents.
   
   ESET NOD32 Antivirus:
   
   Windows XP users: Click Start ? My Computer and navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Applications Data\ESETESET NOD32 Antivirus\Updfiles and delete the contents.
   Then, navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Applications Data\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\Charon and delete the contents.
   
   Windows Vista users: Click Start ? Computer and navigate to C:\ProgramData\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\Updfiles and delete the contents.
   Then, navigate to C:\ProgramData\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus\Charon and delete the contents.
5. Navigate to C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus or C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET Smart Security and delete all em0**_32.dat files.
   
   

   
   
   Fig 1-3

6. Restart your computer.
7. Open the main program window by clicking the ESET icon next to the system clock or by clicking Start ? All Programs ? ESET ? ESET Smart Security or ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
8. Click Update from the main menu and click Update virus signature database (see Fig. 1-2). If you still receive the "error downloading update file" message, continue to step 9. If not, you are finished.
9. If the steps above do not resolve the “error downloading update file” message, please Uninstall and reinstall your ESET security product.