BleepingComputer.com: Windows Defender

Hi everyone, I seem to have lost my Windows Defender. I had a pop up telling me it was turned off and to click to turn it on. Nothing happened when I clicked it. I went into my security to try turning it on there, and I get the same thing. After a search, I'm not sure it's even there, so I downloaded it, went to install it, but it won't install, it keeps telling me I do not need to install Defender as it comes with Vista. Can anyone please help me get it started again? Thank you.

This post has been edited by mrsb: 29 May 2011 - 09:25 AM

Windows Defender is totally useless program.
Disable it and forget about it.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/15788/how-to-uninstall-disable-and-remove-windows-defender.-also-how-turn-it-off/

Did you check to make sure the Windows Defender service is running?

Click on > Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Administrative Tools and double-click on the Services option.

• When prompted by User Access Control, click the Continue button. If you are not prompted, you have either disabled UAC or are logged in with an account that does not have the ability to run with administrative privileges.
  
• In the Services applet, look at the Status and Startup Type entries next to the Defender service.
• When a service is running, it will be listed as Started in the status column. If the Status column next to a service is blank, that means the service is not running.
  
• If it is stopped, double-click on the Defender service to open the Properties page.
  
• In the Properties Window > General Tab that opens, click the "Start" button.
  
• From the drop-down menu next to "Startup Type", click on "Automatic".
  
• Click "Apply", then "OK" and close any open windows.

If the above does not resolve the problem, then check in services to see if the DCOM Server Process Launcher and Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service are running and set to "Automatic". Windows Defender depends on both of these services so if they are not running, start each one in the same manner as you did for the Windows Defender service.

Windows Vista SP1 Services 411 - Windows Defender

Quote

Windows 7 Services 411 - Windows Defender

Quote

Thanks for the replies. I'd like to have Defender working, whether I need it or not. I followed the steps you gave me Bleepin' Janitor, and everything thing is as it should be, it says Started, but I still went to properties and in there it says Stopped. When i click start, it comes up saying: 'The Windows Defender service on Local Computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services or programs.'
I have Microsoft Security Essentials, will that make any difference?

Before installation, Microsoft Security Essentials checks for a validated copy of Windows and will disable Windows Defender if installed since MSE provides protects against spyware.

Thanks again. That explains why it's not on, but why did I get the pop up asking me to turn it on?

Hard to say without actually sitting in front of your machine. You could have accidentally clicked on an old shortcut link without realizing and Defender wanted to start but couldn't.

Thank you BJ, I'm content with that. Your input has been appreciated.

You're welcome.