[SOLVED] Windows Defender gets various errors and won't install updates
- Thread starter sga000
- Start date
BrianDrab
Emeritus
Not sure what time it is there but maybe just let it go overnight. I'm reviewing the logs that you sent.
BrianDrab
Emeritus
I've finished reviewing all the logs and unfortunately didn't come up with anything useful. Every indication is that Windows Defender is working fine and getting updates, scanning, etc. It's just the Action Center doesn't appear to think so.
I really apologize for not being able to solve this. I've had to work on this same issue a few times (normally malware cases) and never came up with a solution. In fact I haven't found anyone that has ever solved this particular issue.
So I'll have to refer you to the options presented earlier.
I really apologize for not being able to solve this. I've had to work on this same issue a few times (normally malware cases) and never came up with a solution. In fact I haven't found anyone that has ever solved this particular issue.
So I'll have to refer you to the options presented earlier.
Brian, I'll just let it run... but it's now over 3 hours and still on that step! It makes me wonder if something is wrong. Too bad it can't assess approximately how long each step might take and show me the progress, but alas, no such information is there.
It's not just the Action Center that thinks there is a problem. Defender isn't doing updates, as far as I can see. Updates only happen if I bring up Windows Update, then I see the latest definitions (and maybe other updates) that need to be run, and then I tell it to run. So Defender definitely is having a problem. As far as scanning or protecting, maybe it's doing that behind the scenes, but I don't see any indication that it is doing that. I wonder if you're seeing something in the logs about it....I can bring up Defender and try to get it to do scans or updates, but that's when I get error codes. Maybe the logs show my attempts.
No apology necessary! It obviously is an "obtuse" problem...all of the things tried should have replaced/repaired whatever was messed up. I'm surprised that I somehow created something so strange.
Thank you very much.
It's not just the Action Center that thinks there is a problem. Defender isn't doing updates, as far as I can see. Updates only happen if I bring up Windows Update, then I see the latest definitions (and maybe other updates) that need to be run, and then I tell it to run. So Defender definitely is having a problem. As far as scanning or protecting, maybe it's doing that behind the scenes, but I don't see any indication that it is doing that. I wonder if you're seeing something in the logs about it....I can bring up Defender and try to get it to do scans or updates, but that's when I get error codes. Maybe the logs show my attempts.
No apology necessary! It obviously is an "obtuse" problem...all of the things tried should have replaced/repaired whatever was messed up. I'm surprised that I somehow created something so strange.
Thank you very much.
Finally! First step ran about 3 1/2 hours, all the rest in another 1 1/2. Still no good. There's something peculiar now. When I click on Turn on Spyware Protection in the flags area, Defender comes up (and then I can't proceed, as usual). But if I click Turn on Virus Protection, it brings up File Explorer in Windows\System32. It does not bring up Defender at all, but it used to. Weird! I guess the repair changed someting. Oh well.
BrianDrab
Emeritus
I've see this before too.
You may want to try one of the following documented here.
Workaround#1
You need to change the permissions on the registry in order to change DisableAntiVirus. (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows Defender.)
Right-click to choose "Permissions...".
Next "Advanced".
Change "Owner", SYSTEM to Administrators.
Change Administrators entry, Read to Full Control.
I'm sure this can be changed in the registry to 0
Launch "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe"
Workaround#2
Running the command prompt as administrator and then typing the command SC START WINDEFEND ENABLE
Take care and I wish you the best of luck.
Brian, I saw that same article (and several more) last night, all referring to the system32 issue. No good.
For the first one, it's just allowing changing the DisableAntivirus parameter (and another for file protection) for Defender in the registry. It seems like many people have installed other malware protection, and even though they attempt to get rid of it, there are remnants left. Many times, these two parameters are left at 1 in the registry as a result. So people want to change them to 0 in order to get Defender back. But this was never my problem. I did not have the values set to 1 ever...until I installed Avast, and then that is the correct behavior. When I uninstalled Avast, they went back to 0.
For the second suggestion, that command did not work for me because it said the service was already started, which was accurate. Again, other people's problem is that they can't get Defender to start, but that was never my problem. But I had still stopped and restarted the service by other means earlier, still with the same errors in action center.
I've reinstalled Avast and am going with that for a while, maybe until I go to Windows 10! Thank you.
For the first one, it's just allowing changing the DisableAntivirus parameter (and another for file protection) for Defender in the registry. It seems like many people have installed other malware protection, and even though they attempt to get rid of it, there are remnants left. Many times, these two parameters are left at 1 in the registry as a result. So people want to change them to 0 in order to get Defender back. But this was never my problem. I did not have the values set to 1 ever...until I installed Avast, and then that is the correct behavior. When I uninstalled Avast, they went back to 0.
For the second suggestion, that command did not work for me because it said the service was already started, which was accurate. Again, other people's problem is that they can't get Defender to start, but that was never my problem. But I had still stopped and restarted the service by other means earlier, still with the same errors in action center.
I've reinstalled Avast and am going with that for a while, maybe until I go to Windows 10! Thank you.
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