Scan with Windows Defender - Add in Windows 8

How to Add "Scan with Windows Defender" for Files and Folders in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to add "Scan with Windows Defender" to the context menu for you to be able to scan any file or folder in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

   Note

When added, you will be able to right click or press and hold on any file or folder, then either click/tap on Send to and/or Scan with Windows Defender to scan it.

This will open a command prompt showing you the scan results, then you can press any key to close the command prompt.

EXAMPLE: "Scan with Windows Defender" in Context Menu in Windows 8

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EXAMPLE: "Scan with Windows Defender" in "Send to" Context Menu in Windows 8

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OPTION ONE

Add or Remove "Scan with Windows Defender" Context Menu

   Note

This option will add the context menu to all users.

While you must be signed in as an administrator to be able to add or remove the context menu, all users will be able to use it.

You will be able to scan files, folders, and drives with this option.

The "Scan with Windows Defender" option will not work on a library, Recycle Bin, and Network even though they have the context menu.

Thank you to plutomaniac for providing this option.

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1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​

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2. To Remove "Scan with Windows Defender" from Context Menu​

NOTE: This is the default setting. It will remove both step 3 and 4 below.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

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Remove_Scan_with_Windows_Defender__Context_Menu.reg​

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3. To Add "Scan with Windows Defender" to Context Menu​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

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Add_Scan_with_Windows_Defender__Context_Menu.reg​

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4. Add Update Windows Defender and "Scan with Windows Defender" to Context Menu​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.​

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Add_Update_and_Scan_with_Windows_Defender_Context_Menu.reg​

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5. Save the .reg file to your desktop.​

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6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.​

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7. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.​

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8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

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OPTION TWO

Add or Remove "Scan with Windows Defender" Send to Context Menu

   Note

This option will only add this to your user account, and not all users.

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1. Click/tap on the download button below to download the .bat file.​

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Scan with Windows Defender.bat​

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2. Save the .bat file to your desktop, and unblock it.​

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3. Press the :winkey: + R keys to open the Run dialog.​

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4. Type shell:sendto, and press Enter.​

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5. Move the Scan with Windows Defender.bat file into the SendTo folder, and close the SendTo folder. (see screenshot below)​

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   Tip

To remove "Scan with Windows Defender" in "Send to", you would just need to delete the Scan with Windows Defender.bat file in the SendTo folder.

   Tip

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If you like, you could keep the .bat file saved at another location, and create a shortcut to place in the SendTo folder instead. This way you could change the icon to what you like, and not have the file extension show if set to do so. The Windows Defender icon is located in the "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe" file.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Add a "Windows Defender" Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Windows Defender" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Set Up Windows Defender to Scan on a Schedule in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn Windows Defender On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn Windows Defender Real-time Protection On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[MilesAhead]

If you have "hide extensions of known file types" disabled you will see "Scan with Windows Defender.bat" in the SendTo. Putting a shortcut instead allows you to name the shortcut whatever you like, or to just trim the extension off the end.

 

[plutomaniac]

Hello, I spent some hours trying to figure out how to add a file scan by right clicking and also being able to pause it after the scan is complete even when threats are not found. So here it is:



This .reg file adds a folder & file scan context menu for Windows Defender and it always pauses after the scan is complete to clearly see the results.

Add-Remove Windows Defender Context Menus.zip

 

[Brink]

Hello Plutomaniac, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It's a very good first step. I noticed that it doesn't like to scan drives or libraries. I give it a play over the next few days to see if I may be able to help fine tune it some.

In addition, you would only need this below in the .reg file to remove it instead.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Folder Scan
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\WindowsDefender]

; File Scan
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\WindowsDefender]

 

[plutomaniac]

Thank you for the feedback, I hadn't actually noticed that bug. I fixed it so here is v2:

• Fixed error when scanning Drives (error on Recycle Bin, Network, empty DVD-ROM etc is normal)
• Removed useless deletions from "Remove".reg file (thx Brink)
• Included the great Desktop Context Menu by Brink

Add-Remove Windows Defender Context Menus v2.zip

 

[Brink]

Ok good. I'd rather keep the desktop context menu a separate option though.

 

[plutomaniac]

Sure, that's fine. I snatched v3 which has the desktop context menu removed to keep separate:

Add-Remove Windows Defender Context Menus v3.zip

Let me know if there is something wrong with it. Previously, a space was needed after %1 to fix the issue with root drives.

 

[Brink]

Thank you again plutomaniac.

I cleaned up the remove .reg file a bit, and added this as OPTION ONE in the tutorial.

 

[plutomaniac]

It woks great and yes the remove.reg needed some cleanup now that I saw it. The only limitation I know of is that when non-english paths are scanned the string will be cut from cmd window.

So if the path is for example: C:\NON-ENGLISH-FOLDER-NAME\
It will show after scan: Scanning C:\Press any key to continue...



That's a MpCmdRun.exe limitation and not really a problem.

 

[plutomaniac]

Update:

I noticed that the -UpdateSignatures command was doing nothing the way it was implemented so I fixed it. Now the script first updates Windows Defender with the latest online signatures and then scans the requested file, folder, drive etc.



Changelog:

- Fixed/Added Signature Update before Scan
- Added "new lines" between update - scan - pause to look better (like pressing enter)

Add Windows Defender Context Menus v4.reg

(sorry for the constant updates but only now do I consider it somewhat functional & complete)

 

[TonyB]

Is this a new version then the one that was on here from win 8 last time? if so what do i need to do to get this one remove the old one and do this one? I have the send to windows defender version do i remove that has it been updated or keep it and add this with it, i also have this as well http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...-desktop-context-menu-create-windows-8-a.html, do i need to remove any of these things to add this?.

 

[plutomaniac]

If you want the first method, remove the Send To sortcut first and then download the .reg file. Brink has not updated yet the 1st method with the v4 file I uploaded above so download that one. The remove .reg file of Option 1 remains the same.

You do not need to remove the Desktop Context Menu, this is completely separate.

 

[Brink]

Is this a new version then the one that was on here from win 8 last time? if so what do i need to do to get this one remove the old one and do this one? I have the send to windows defender version do i remove that has it been updated or keep it and add this with it, i also have this as well http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...-desktop-context-menu-create-windows-8-a.html, do i need to remove any of these things to add this?.

Hello Tony,

You do not have to remove the others unless you just wanted to be able to add Option One and/or Option Two in this tutorial.

 

[Brink]

Update:

I noticed that the -UpdateSignatures command was doing nothing the way it was implemented so I fixed it. Now the script first updates Windows Defender with the latest online signatures and then scans the requested file, folder, drive etc.

View attachment 34740

Changelog:

- Fixed/Added Signature Update before Scan
- Added "new lines" between update - scan - pause to look better (like pressing enter)

Add Windows Defender Context Menus v4.reg

(sorry for the constant updates but only now do I consider it somewhat functional & complete)

Thank you Plutomaniac. I added it as a separate step in OPTION ONE.

 

[TonyB]

ok so i can safely add Scan with Windows Defender" Context Menu and leave the others?

 

[Brink]

Correct.

 

[TonyB]

i get a warning when i go to add this to the registry something about it can make the system unstable or change the way the program can work should i ignore that?

 

[Brink]

No worries. That's just a standard "are you sure" type warning to approve merging the .reg file like at step 7.

 

[TonyB]

awesome i did V4 the one that updates first so if i ever need to remove it i can use the existing removal reg key correct i also went a head and just removed the old Scan with Windows Defender.bat from the send to area as i did not need it so i deleted that. Thanks for the new version update guys

 

[plutomaniac]

The remove .reg files remains the same for both "scan" or "update & then scan" versions.

I wish it could be removed from folders such as Recycle Bin but I've no idea how to do that even if it is possible the way the tweak currently works.

 

[TonyB]

Not to worry thanks it works awesome