Solved Still Can't Get Windows Defenders Turned On

krewblues

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I've read and tried the various ways to get Win Defender turned on. I can get to the Action Center Security where it says "view antispyware options". When I click on it, it says Defender (and trial Norton) are off and gives me the option to turn on Windows Defender. I click "turn on" and nothing happens. I want, for now, to run Win Defender not Norton. Any suggestions?
 

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Me too, I can not start windows defender :(

I just figured out what to do, at least in my situation. I had a trial version of Norton that came with the laptop. I uninstalled it and Windows Defender is now working as it should. Don't know if this will help you or not. If you have another anti virus software installed that may be the issue.
Hope this helps, if not, good luck!
 

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System One

  • OS
    Win 8
Why would you want to use Windows Defender, it's useless. Keep it turned off and use third party software maybe one with built in.
 

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Windows Defender in Windows 8 includes the Microsoft Security Essentials AV engine, which is one if the best out there.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 using Board Express
 

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Why would you want to use Windows Defender, it's useless. Keep it turned off and use third party software maybe one with built in.
Not useless, but quite a few 3rd party AVs are better.
 

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Why would you want to use Windows Defender, it's useless. Keep it turned off and use third party software maybe one with built in.
Not useless, but quite a few 3rd party AVs are better.

Maybe on Windows 7 and earlier perhaps, but Windows 8 nobody has the code except for Microsoft which means 3rd party AV has to reverse engineer and cheap hack away to get their stuff working with the new code.

Also, nobody knows the ins and outs of Windows like Microsoft does.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
Why would you want to use Windows Defender, it's useless. Keep it turned off and use third party software maybe one with built in.

From what I've read, everyone has a different experience with Windows Defender and also a variety of experiences with a number of 3rd party AV software. Until I have the time to do more research about all of it, I need to have something in place and since Win Def. is already installed I'm going with it.
If you have a particular 3rd party AV program that you like, I'd be interested in what it is and why you like it.
 

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  • OS
    Win 8
Hi all

I had the same situation as KrewBlues. I also installed the Norton Trial instead of Windows Defender. Today I realized maybe Norton was causing a bunch of issues I've been having. I tried to uninstall Norton. I was prompted to turn on Defender as the uninstall was running. I (stupidly) assumed it would give me a dialogue to turn on Defender, but apparently it just went ahead and started up Defender during the uninstall. Needless to say, both processes hung. Went back to re-start uninstall but no sign of Norton. Went back to add update to Defender, turn on Firewall, etc and now nothing responds in action center.

Any ideas how to attack this? Please?

Thanks so much,
CarCar
 

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Why would you want to use Windows Defender, it's useless. Keep it turned off and use third party software maybe one with built in.
Not useless, but quite a few 3rd party AVs are better.
Do you have a 3rd party AV recommendation? I've read a little bit and it seems some are not in line with Windows 8 yet.
try kingsoft antivirus 2012. Totally free. But it will turn off WD. I have been using it for over a month and I really like it
 

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. When I click on it, it says Defender (and trial Norton) are off and gives me the option to turn on Windows Defender. I click "turn on" and nothing happens. I want, for now, to run Win Defender not Norton. Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]

The Norton live chat help made it so I can now go to the Action Center and turn Norton on or off. But- they could not figure out how to turn Defender on.
 

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  • OS
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Have you uninstalled norton? Windows defender will not turn on unless norton is totally uninstalled
 

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    CPU
    desktop/laptop
    Memory
    4gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    atm randioum
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    350,250
Have you uninstalled norton? Windows defender will not turn on unless norton is totally uninstalled

I had read some forums (is there an authoritative voice anywhere?) where the removal of Norton doesn't solve the problem. But I had an online chat with Microsoft and they said the ONLY thing is to uninstall Norton. So, once I got it working right; I uninstalled it and - surfs up AOK
 

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System One

  • OS
    win 8
Told ya ;)
 

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    CPU
    desktop/laptop
    Memory
    4gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    atm randioum
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    350,250
Me too, I can not start windows defender :(

Hi there
It's built in to W8 -- what do you mean "I can't start it".


if you don't see Windows defender then your Windows 8 installation is either broken, incomplete or compromised.

If Norton really DOES disable Windows Defender how could you even possibly THINK of using it -- any piece of software that tampers with the base code of the OS Kernel IMO is as bad as a Virus itself -- looks like Norton is one of those cases where the "Cure" is worse than "The disease". Ditch it quick. !!


Go into control panel

Double click it.

Now you've got all the facilities at your disposal -- the screen is similar to MSE in Windows 7.

Can you post shots of "Can't Start it --what are you trying to do".

Here's 2 screen shots --one of what you should see in the control panel and the other one of Windows defender options.

BTW JUNK Norton --it's obsolete -- uses resources and you have to PAY for it. Computer stores get a commission for pushing Norton when you buy a new machine. I always say NO and the staff in the shop look aghast -- saying you REALLY need to have some Internet Security software. I say Windows 8 already has the best currently available system built in to the OS kernel itself -- and the store staff look fazed.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Hi jimbo, all third party AV programs disable Windows Defender, only the Windows firewall left untouched, JFYI ;)
 

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Having used Security Essentials and now Windows defender for a few years as well as trying Kaspersky, McAFee, Norton. In the real world it is just as effective, i.e. I have never had a virus or malware infection, with the huge advantage that it is free doesn't have the huge bloat and unnecessary features that the 3rd party offerings need to add to justify their existence. The resource overhead of the ones I have tried means as far as I am concerned they are consigned to the bin.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8
Hi jimbo, all third party AV programs disable Windows Defender, only the Windows firewall left untouched, JFYI ;)

Hi there
For Windows 7 that wasn't so bad as Windows defender was a bolt on to the OS and not part of the OS code itself and it wasn't particularly good anyway.

In Windows 8 it's now actually a part of the kernel - really a totally updated version of MSE. Ms perhaps made an error in calling it Windows defender -- but it does the job just as good as or probably far better than all the 3rd party solutions out there free or otherwise.

You really don't want to let 3rd party software mess around with the base core of the OS under any circumstances. This is where Windows defender in W8 is a totally different ballgame to Windows defender in Windows 7.

For Home use it's fine -- don't bother installing anything else. For Corporate LANS then you do need some more robust AV software - but this is likely to be a proper Enterprise level security system. For Home use just totally forget about 3rd party AV software. Windows update will update the database almost daily --far better than waiting for updates from Kaspersky etc.

@Brummyfan -- at least as a non English guy my favourite Premier League football team is NOT MANCHESTER UNITED. !!!!!

Hope West Ham stuff them at tonights cup game -- watching on ITV via a proxy. (Hate ITV1 though - Adrian Child -- what a Gink !! and so many adverts --makes US TV seem like the BBC. Football should be BANNED from ITV. give it back to the BBC or even SKY).

At least my proxy works

screenshot enc




Cheers
jimbo
 

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