Solved Can't locate Windows Defender to activate

2mindless

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I've had this simple issue before but can never recall how to retrace my steps to manually reactivate. I have gone to Windows 8 forum (http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/21962-windows-defender-turn-off-windows-8-a.html) & followed the steps...but Windows Defender is not appearing in my action center...when I go here it shows my antivirus & everything on. There's no option to expand the "security" settings to locate windows defender.

Everything else I do turns up a notification that the app is "off"; but it doesn't give me an option for turning it on. Once again I'm lost in the dust of Windows 8 & it's embedded features...can someone please advise me of where I locate windows defender to turn it back on...otherwise I'll go the simpler route & just leave things "as is" & download iobit malware fighter or something. However, I've found that I have sporadic issues with Iobit Malware fighter [anyone else experience this] where it works for awhile & then for some reason after a time it won't launch. I find I'm rather routinely having to uninstall & re-install it. Is it a compatibility glitch with Windows 8.1? Cause Iobit website insists that their malware fighter coincides with all versions of Windows 8 (pretty much). Or should I even be concerned about the malware fighter...I have superantispyware...but it's not a program that is automatically active. My windows security center seems to be compensating with AVG antivirus in place of a malware program. I wasn't aware there was any antimalware or spyware embedded in AVG?

Anyone have recommendations on a really good "free" antimalware/spyware [typically I go to cnet.com & search for free software downloads & use the TOP recommended program. Been running that way for a few years...usually it's iobit programs in the top rankings...but malware fighter seems to be giving me a run around lately]
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 23
    CPU
    AMD A6 5200 APU
    Motherboard
    ??
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon HD 8400
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23 " led back-lit flatscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 landscape
    Hard Drives
    1TB HDD
    PSU
    external black box
    Cooling
    fan located inside device
    Keyboard
    HP wireless chiclet style
    Mouse
    HP wireless optical mouse
    Internet Speed
    6.02 mbps download .62 upload (Bell sympatico/Fibe 5)
    Browser
    Comodo Dragon
    Antivirus
    AVG 2014
    Other Info
    dual layer optical drive. DVD/RW/CD; 6 in 1 card readers, 6 USB ports...3-2.0, 3-3.0.
Go to Control Panel, switch to view by to small icons, then you can access Defender to switch on. There are few free AV programs such as Avast, Avira and AVG but when you install any of them make sure you select custom install and avoid installing annoying tool bars.
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire E1-571
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer Type-2
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Sound Card
    High Definiton Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256GB
    PSU
    Generic
    Keyboard
    QWERTY
    Mouse
    ELANTECH Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    12.68Mbps
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Thanks Brummyfan. This worked to locate windows defender...but I still can't do anything. It won't open so I can check settings or anything because it's been disabled. But I can't get anything to launch so I can re-enable it...I just keep getting a notification window that pops up telling me it's been turned off by an app & if I'm running other antimalware to check that program. So I would suppose the root issue is with Iobit Malware Fighter? I have that installed in my computer...& somehow it seems it's generating a conflict with Windows Defender....Defender has gotten switched off & for the life of me [unlike previous times] I can't get anything to open up which will enable me to turn it back on.

I can only presume that at some point in future if I discontinue using IOBIT Malware fighter...or Malaware Bytes...then when these programs are removed from my system it may reconfigure to allow me to access windows defender. So for the interim I have saved your info. for future reference...but I guess it's not a big deal if I can't get Windows Defender put back on...the long & short of it is, I can run a software un-installer & remove windows defender & then reinstall it from the microsoft website. Then it should restore settings so that I am not "locked out" again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 23
    CPU
    AMD A6 5200 APU
    Motherboard
    ??
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon HD 8400
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23 " led back-lit flatscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 landscape
    Hard Drives
    1TB HDD
    PSU
    external black box
    Cooling
    fan located inside device
    Keyboard
    HP wireless chiclet style
    Mouse
    HP wireless optical mouse
    Internet Speed
    6.02 mbps download .62 upload (Bell sympatico/Fibe 5)
    Browser
    Comodo Dragon
    Antivirus
    AVG 2014
    Other Info
    dual layer optical drive. DVD/RW/CD; 6 in 1 card readers, 6 USB ports...3-2.0, 3-3.0.
I've found the problem. Either embedded in the AVG 2014 configuration or something within Windows 8.1 framework is automatically disabling Windows Defender whenever an alternate anti-viral or anti-malware program is found running that monitors the same components. This is a 'fail safe' to prevent conflicting programs [IMO]. I had both my anti-virus & antimalware disabled while doing a firmware upgrade on my cellphone & importing/backing up files...during this time my Windows Action Centre notified Defender is disabled & asked if I wanted to turn it on to click or tap the appropriate place [I didn't get my computer enabled with Windows touch so I point & click...]. Anyhow...as soon as I'd enabled Defender, I re-enabled AVG 2014 & as soon as I did so, Defender automatically shut off. I didn't do a thing...now I know what is occurring...I'm not concerned. :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 23
    CPU
    AMD A6 5200 APU
    Motherboard
    ??
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon HD 8400
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23 " led back-lit flatscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 landscape
    Hard Drives
    1TB HDD
    PSU
    external black box
    Cooling
    fan located inside device
    Keyboard
    HP wireless chiclet style
    Mouse
    HP wireless optical mouse
    Internet Speed
    6.02 mbps download .62 upload (Bell sympatico/Fibe 5)
    Browser
    Comodo Dragon
    Antivirus
    AVG 2014
    Other Info
    dual layer optical drive. DVD/RW/CD; 6 in 1 card readers, 6 USB ports...3-2.0, 3-3.0.
@ Brummyfan. I always do custom installs with any software downloads...I do detest the annoying toolbars or any modifications to my start screen or home page. I'm fussy that way. I don't recall the name of it but I once came across a very handy software tool that is a toolbar eliminator...so anything that maybe bundled in [like spigot or iobit toolbars] it goes through your c://drive & looks for the installation of these toolbars & cleans them out :D Handy little device...Not usually can I not just use a regular "un-installer" & quickly scroll through & find these added toolbars....but I did one time get playing around with things I don't normally install or look at & I got some pesky lil toolbars installed (bundled in) & they were not being identified with the "uninstaller" software...so it was like have little caspers in my machine [they were in there but I didn't know where to find them to get them out]...so this little "sniffer" program quickly & easily got them all out for me...now I know again to watch where I poke my nose. LOL!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 23
    CPU
    AMD A6 5200 APU
    Motherboard
    ??
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon HD 8400
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23 " led back-lit flatscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 landscape
    Hard Drives
    1TB HDD
    PSU
    external black box
    Cooling
    fan located inside device
    Keyboard
    HP wireless chiclet style
    Mouse
    HP wireless optical mouse
    Internet Speed
    6.02 mbps download .62 upload (Bell sympatico/Fibe 5)
    Browser
    Comodo Dragon
    Antivirus
    AVG 2014
    Other Info
    dual layer optical drive. DVD/RW/CD; 6 in 1 card readers, 6 USB ports...3-2.0, 3-3.0.
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