Issue

• You receive the message "error downloading update file" when attempting to update the virus signature database.

Solution

I. Clear the update cache

1. Verify that your Internet connection is active by visiting The ESET home page.
    
2. Open ESET Smart Security or ESET NOD32 Antivirus. How do I open my ESET product?
    
3. Press F5 to open the Advanced Setup window.
    
4. Deselect the check box next to Enable Self-defense. Your ESET product will notify you that a computer restart is required, click OK.

Figure 1-1
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5. From the Advanced Setup tree, click Update (you may need to scroll down) and then click Clear... next to Clear update cache.

Figure 1-2
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6. Click OK and restart your computer.
    
7. Open the main program window and click Update → Update virus signature database.

Figure 1-3

8. If you still receive the "Error downloading update file" message, continue to part 2. If not, you are finished and can re-enable Self-defense. Press F5 to open the Advanced Setup window and then select the Enable Self-defense option. Your ESET security product will alert you that a computer restart is required. Click OK. Click OKto exit the Advanced Setup window and restart your computer.

II. Delete update files

1. Confirm that you can see hidden files and folders.
   • Windows XP/ Windows 7: Click Start → Control Panel → Folder Options → View and select Show hidden files and folders.
   
   
   • Windows Vista: Click Start → Control Panel → Appearance and Personalizations → Show hidden files and folders under Folder Options and select Show hidden files and folders.

 
1. Delete the contents of the Updfiles folder and the Charon folder.
   • Windows XP:
     1. Click Start → My Computer and navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Applications Data\ESET\ESET Smart Security\Updfiles or ESET NOD32 Antivirus\Updfiles and delete the contents.
         
     2. Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Applications Data\ESET\ESET Smart Security or ESET NOD32 Antivirus\Charon and delete the contents.
         
   • Windows Vista and Windows 7:
     1. Click Start → Computer and navigate to C:\ProgramData\ESET\ESET Smart Security\Updfiles or ESET NOD32 Antivirus\Updfiles and delete the contents.
         
     2. Navigate to C:\ProgramData\ESET\ESET Smart Security or ESET NOD32 Antivirus\Charon and delete the contents.
     
     
      
2. Navigate to C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET NOD32 Antivirus or C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET Smart Security and delete all em0**_32.dat files.
   
   

   
   
   Figure 1-4
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3. Restart your computer.
    
4. Open ESET Smart Security or ESET NOD32 Antivirus. How do I open my ESET product?
    
5. Click Update → Update virus signature database (see Figure 1-3). If you still receive the "error downloading update file" message, skip to step 9.
    
6. Press F5 to open the Advanced Setup window and then select Enable Self-defense. Your ESET product will notify you that a computer restart is required. Click OK, and then click OK to exit the Advanced Setup window.
    
7. Restart your computer for your changes to take effect.
    
8. If the steps above do not resolve the “error downloading update file” message, Uninstall and reinstall your ESET product.