Installing Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows 7 into Windows Server 2012 The first hack allows you to install Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). Microsoft Security Essentials is designed for Windows 7 and is not compatible (nor supported) on Windows Server 2012. But if you insist, you might as well end-up installing it on your Windows Server 2012. Download a copy of MSE from Microsoft: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-all-versions Right Click on the "mseinstall.exe". Click on Properties. Click on the "Compatibility"-tab. Locate the "Compatibility mode"-section. Check "Run this program in compatibility mode for:". Select From the (now active) dropdown menu "Windows 7". Open a Command Prompt as Administrator. cd to your Downloads folder (ie. cd C:\Users\%username%\Downloads). Run "mseinstall /disableoslimit" and follow the installer prompts to install MSE on your Windows Server 2012.