Defender won't open in windows 8

Alaskahsm

New Member
Messages
7
Hi I am having the problem of Windows defender not opening. In the action center it says it is on. What I'm having issues with is clicking on the defender icon and nothing happening. It just won't open. I want to run a full scan, but I get nothing. Any help would be appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
What happens if you try to open it from the Control Panel?
Does it say 'This app has been turned off and isn't monitoring your computer'?

Also, in the control panel again, check the 'Action Center' to see if there are any messages for antivirus options for Windows Defender.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Pentium Dual CPU 2.4GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Screen Resolution
    Dual 1280x2014
    Antivirus
    VIPRE
Even in the control panel I click on it and nothing happens. It just sits there.
In the action center I have

Windows firewall-on
Windows update-on
virus protection, defender-on
spyware, defender-on
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
Try turning it off and then on again from the Action Center to see if that helps.
Or turn it off, restart machine, turn it back on, restart machine - try again?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Pentium Dual CPU 2.4GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Screen Resolution
    Dual 1280x2014
    Antivirus
    VIPRE
How about if you go to C:\Program Files\Windows Defender - it is 'MSASCui.exe'
Does it open through that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Pentium Dual CPU 2.4GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Screen Resolution
    Dual 1280x2014
    Antivirus
    VIPRE
Hmm No it doesn't, but the file MSASCui.exe does not have the.exe extension on it. Could that be the problem?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
Do you have 'hide extensions for known file types' checked?

183ee6d3a0.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom build
    CPU
    i5-6500 @3.20GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B150-HD3P-CF
    Memory
    16GB DDR4 2133 Crucial Ballistix Sport LT
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTX 1060 GAMING X 6G
    Sound Card
    Built-in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Liyama ProLite XB2483HSU-B2
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX200 500GB & Toshiba DT01ACA300 3TB
    PSU
    Corsair RM550x
    Case
    Fractal Design Define S
    Cooling
    Cooler Master TX3 i
    Keyboard
    Func KB-460 (MX Red)
    Mouse
    Corsair Gaming M65 RGB
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Total Security 2017 + MBAM Pro + MBAE Pro
    Other Info
    Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage V2 headset
Okay so it does have the .exe. :) It still does not open from there. I tried to run as admin, but it just asks if it wants me to allow it to change and then again does nothing after I click yes. I'm trying to update itunes at the same time and it's not working either. It keeps telling me I'm not the admin, which I am.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
I opened my laptop in safemode and there windows defender is no where to be found. I'm so confused now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
Have you tried other antivirus software such as:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Trend Micro Internet Security
AVG Free Edition

If any of the programs worked, then I recommend that you replace Windows Defender. Based on AV-TEST.org's recent lab tests, it showed that Windows Defender is less effective compared to 3rd-party applications.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Malwarebytes isn't an AntiVirus program but an Anti-Malware program.
Malwarebytes won't catch what an AntiVirus program does catch.

@Alaskahsm, did you had any other AV programs installed?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom build
    CPU
    i5-6500 @3.20GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B150-HD3P-CF
    Memory
    16GB DDR4 2133 Crucial Ballistix Sport LT
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTX 1060 GAMING X 6G
    Sound Card
    Built-in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Liyama ProLite XB2483HSU-B2
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX200 500GB & Toshiba DT01ACA300 3TB
    PSU
    Corsair RM550x
    Case
    Fractal Design Define S
    Cooling
    Cooler Master TX3 i
    Keyboard
    Func KB-460 (MX Red)
    Mouse
    Corsair Gaming M65 RGB
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Total Security 2017 + MBAM Pro + MBAE Pro
    Other Info
    Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage V2 headset
Malwarebytes isn't an AntiVirus program but an Anti-Malware program.
Malwarebytes won't catch what an AntiVirus program does catch.

@Alaskahsm, did you had any other AV programs installed?

This is a common misconception.

'Malware' is an umbrella term used to refer to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive software, including computer VIRUSES, worms, trojan horses,ransomware, spyware, adware, scareware, and other malicious programs. - Wikipedia
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
That is the definition of malware, but Malwarebytes does only catch a really small group of it.
For example, Malwarebytes doesn't catch worms, trojans etc.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom build
    CPU
    i5-6500 @3.20GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B150-HD3P-CF
    Memory
    16GB DDR4 2133 Crucial Ballistix Sport LT
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTX 1060 GAMING X 6G
    Sound Card
    Built-in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Liyama ProLite XB2483HSU-B2
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX200 500GB & Toshiba DT01ACA300 3TB
    PSU
    Corsair RM550x
    Case
    Fractal Design Define S
    Cooling
    Cooler Master TX3 i
    Keyboard
    Func KB-460 (MX Red)
    Mouse
    Corsair Gaming M65 RGB
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Total Security 2017 + MBAM Pro + MBAE Pro
    Other Info
    Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage V2 headset
That is the definition of malware, but Malwarebytes does only catch a really small group of it.
For example, Malwarebytes doesn't catch worms, trojans etc.

Let me quote Malwarebytes instead of Wikipedia:

"Malwarebytes Anti-Malware's industry-leading scanner detects and removes malware like worms, Trojans, rootkits, rogues, spyware, and more." - Malwarebytes.org
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
That is the definition of malware, but Malwarebytes does only catch a really small group of it.
For example, Malwarebytes doesn't catch worms, trojans etc.

Let me quote Malwarebytes instead of Wikipedia:

"Malwarebytes Anti-Malware's industry-leading scanner detects and removes malware like worms, Trojans, rootkits, rogues, spyware, and more." - Malwarebytes.org

Please explain to me why, I had a trojan a few months ago, Malwarebytes didn't detect this trojan? Malwarebytes is build to prevent infections that are very new and doesn't yet get detected by AV programs.
I did scan this trojan with virustotal, but Malwarebytes didn't detect this one even though it was very new.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom build
    CPU
    i5-6500 @3.20GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B150-HD3P-CF
    Memory
    16GB DDR4 2133 Crucial Ballistix Sport LT
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTX 1060 GAMING X 6G
    Sound Card
    Built-in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Liyama ProLite XB2483HSU-B2
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX200 500GB & Toshiba DT01ACA300 3TB
    PSU
    Corsair RM550x
    Case
    Fractal Design Define S
    Cooling
    Cooler Master TX3 i
    Keyboard
    Func KB-460 (MX Red)
    Mouse
    Corsair Gaming M65 RGB
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Total Security 2017 + MBAM Pro + MBAE Pro
    Other Info
    Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage V2 headset
That is the definition of malware, but Malwarebytes does only catch a really small group of it.
For example, Malwarebytes doesn't catch worms, trojans etc.

Let me quote Malwarebytes instead of Wikipedia:

"Malwarebytes Anti-Malware's industry-leading scanner detects and removes malware like worms, Trojans, rootkits, rogues, spyware, and more." - Malwarebytes.org

Please explain to me why, I had a trojan a few months ago, Malwarebytes didn't detect this trojan? Malwarebytes is build to prevent infections that are very new and doesn't yet get detected by AV programs.
I did scan this trojan with virustotal, but Malwarebytes didn't detect this one even though it was very new.

To explain, i'll give 2 points:

1. There are two versions of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware:

a. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free does not have a real-time protection. It is only used for post-infection malware removal (meaning it is only useful once your computer is infected by a malware).
b. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium has a real-time protection which protects your computer from malware. It can block and remove malware automatically.

2. Virus definitions is not updated / Malwarebytes has not discovered the malware yet

Removal tools such as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware needs to have a database of malware information. If the malware is not yet on the database or heuristics engine, the malware will not be detected and removed from your computer.

That's why, I also recommend other malware tools such as Trend Micro Internet Security and Avast Free Edition - both have real-time protection and constantly updated malware database.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
I have premium since a long time, updated definitions.
Malwarebytes should then be capable of detecting it with its heuristics engine, but it didn't.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom build
    CPU
    i5-6500 @3.20GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B150-HD3P-CF
    Memory
    16GB DDR4 2133 Crucial Ballistix Sport LT
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTX 1060 GAMING X 6G
    Sound Card
    Built-in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Liyama ProLite XB2483HSU-B2
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX200 500GB & Toshiba DT01ACA300 3TB
    PSU
    Corsair RM550x
    Case
    Fractal Design Define S
    Cooling
    Cooler Master TX3 i
    Keyboard
    Func KB-460 (MX Red)
    Mouse
    Corsair Gaming M65 RGB
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Total Security 2017 + MBAM Pro + MBAE Pro
    Other Info
    Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Rage V2 headset
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