Microsoft Security Essentials vs Windows Defender in Windows
Microsoft Security Essentials is NOT compatible with Windows 8, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 and you could NOT install it on these versions of Windows.
The reason is Microsoft Security Essentials already inside your Windows 8, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 device but with name of Windows Defender.
If in the start menu and search for Windows Defender, you will find it and if you open it, you will notice it has the similar interface like Microsoft Security Essentials.
Windows Defender in Windows 8 , Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 provides you with full Anti-Malware protection which protect you against Spywares, Adware and Trojan, Worm, Virus and other malicious code unlike Windows Defender in previous version of Windows (Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7) which only protects you against Spyware and Adware and leaves your system unprotected against Virus, Worm, Trojan and other malwares.
If you already installed different Anti-Malware product, it will disable Windows Defender but you may uninstall your current Anti-Malware product and then Windows Defender will be enabled and you could start using it. Windows Defender in Windows 8 , Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, contains the same Anti-Malware and Anti-Spyware engine as Microsoft Security Essentials which means all malwares which detect by Microsoft Security Essentials are detectable by Windows Defender (as long as it is updated). Windows Defender in Windows 8 , Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 comes with a bit improvement to support new features in Windows 8 ,Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 like it supports Early Launch Anti-Malware which load the Anti-Malware product during boot time (if hardware requirements meet like having UEFI in the system). This feature is only available in Windows 8 , Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 and Windows Defender in these version of Windows fully supported it.
If you are using Windows 8 , Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, you don’t look for Microsoft Security Essentials and just make sure Windows Defender is enable and running.