Another "Waaa, Windows Defender won't start!" Thread
Hi! Hoping I've come to the right place here. I've searched a lot on Google for problems identical/similar to mine, but they all seem to want me to install their own private little "fix" tools, and other than essential "well-known" software such as Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and CCleaner, I'm reticent to install any other programs. So here's the issue:
Hi! Hoping I've come to the right place here. I've searched a lot on Google for problems identical/similar to mine, but they all seem to want me to install their own private little "fix" tools, and other than essential "well-known" software such as Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and CCleaner, I'm reticent to install any other programs. So here's the issue:
- When I got my computer, I installed AVG antivirus (I'm sure the "AV-" of "AVG" stands for "antivirus", so that's probably redundant, but... whatever).
- About a day ago, AVG was acting up a bit (slowing stuff down), so having heard really good things about MSE, I uninstalled AVG.
- I "cleaned" the uninstall with AVG's own removal tool from AVG | Download tools and utilities
- I then found out that MSE apparently doesn't work on Win8 (or rather, it's supposedly already included?).
- So I went to turn on Windows Defender. I get the following error: "Windows Defender has been turned off and isn't monitoring your computer. If you're using another app to check for malicious or unwanted software, use Action Center to check that app's status".
- I restarted the computer (actually a few times).
- I ran Malwarebytes, and the Microsoft Safety Scanner (not at the same time! subsequently!). No viruses, etc. found. Whoopie.
- I searched around a bit for my issue, and found that I should run "services.msc" and check for "windows defender", and do something with that. So I start services.msc, and Windows Defender is... not there. There IS a service with the name "$(BrandName)" that has the description "Helps protect against viruses, spyware, and other potentially unwanted software". The "Service Name" when you right click on it and pick Properties is indeed "WinDefend", so I'm fairly sure this is Windows Defender.
- Attempting to click "Start" to start the service returns: "Windows could not start the $(BrandName) service on Local Computer. Error 1053: The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion."
- The registry key for Windows Defender at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDefend DOES have "$(BrandName)" as the "Display Name"
- Finally, I went to Windows Firewall, and "allowed" windows defender through the firewall.
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My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Windows 8
- Computer type
- Laptop
- System Manufacturer/Model
- Lenovo Y500
- CPU
- Intel i7 3630QM @ 2.4GHz
- Memory
- 16GB
- Graphics Card(s)
- nVidia GeForce GT 650M
- Browser
- Firefox
- Antivirus
- (none)