windows defender not scanning on its own

[mlrz24]

I have windows 8.1. I am running windows defender cause its built in and the paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. The problem I'm having is windows defender updates and says it running properly but it won't let me set an automatic system scan. I get a pop up from the windows notification screen once a week saying I need to run a system scan. Just wondering what the problem is and how to fix it? I thought they were different software ruling out them clashing with each other.

 

[Nuccii]

Windows Defender and Malwarebytes cause no conflicts.
Should you wish to schedule Windows Defender differently see this tutorial:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/14264-windows-defender-scheduled-scan-set-up-windows-8-a.html

 

[Cliff S]

View attachment 55752
Does it look like this in Action Center under security or does it show Malwarebytes. The premium version is an Active protection and not just an on demand scanner.

 

[mlrz24]

cliff s: yes my action center looks like that.
nuccii: when I try to set the scheduler following that link I get task license validation incorrect.

 

[Nuccii]

Do you still have a 3rd party antivirus trial version installed still on your computer, if you do use their removal tool.

Run sfc /scannow in an elevated command prompt.

 

[mlrz24]

I tried that nothing happened. I bought my pc from best and was surprised how little bloatware was on it. I did my best to remove the junk right away

 

[Cliff S]

Dumb question I know, but I just have to ask: Have you run a manual scan? In Defender there is no auto scan switch, just an admin turn this app on and turn on real time protection. Once your system has been thoroughly scanned the real time is enough(theoretically). It could also be scanning should be done daily when Maintenance is done. In Action Center under Maintenance>Automatic maintenance>change maintenance settings, have you set a time when your PC is ON but NOT in use, to do daily maintenance. The time is important.

 

[mlrz24]

My pc is on 24/7. I went under maintenance like you suggested and everything is correct. i check windows defender settings and real time protection is on. I also try to run a manual scan once a week but I would like my PC to do it for me like xp use to. instead the action center says it needs to do a scan at least once a week but won't do it automatically.

 

[Cliff S]

Your not the first on with this problem read this on Microsoft Community.
This is the last post there:

GreginMich replied on February 10, 2014

• 

In reply to Mission444's post on February 10, 2014



The “normal” problem with this is that everything is hidden away so well that people just don't realize that a scheduled scan is being run. This is the first case I’ve seen where it’s actually failing to run. Since my reply was a highfalutin explanation of why you won’t have this problem with the Windows (8) Defender Scheduled Scan, and it turns out that you actually do have this problem, my reply should definitely be unmarked as the “answer” – and I’m not sure that I really have an answer for this one.


The first thing you should do is run Automatic Maintenance manually (where it won’t be constrained to idle-time) and see if the scan completes successfully:
Action Center > Maintenance > Start Maintenance

And then run the System Maintenance Troubleshooter:
Action Center > Troubleshooting > System and Security > Run maintenance tasks > Advanced

And while you’re in the vicinity, run the Power Troubleshooter:
Action Center > Troubleshooting > System and Security > Improve power usage > Advanced

If that doesn’t help, then I would take a look at the Event Viewer and Task Scheduler logs for a clue to what’s going on:
Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > Windows Defender > Operational
Task Scheduler > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Windows Defender > Windows Defender Scheduled Scan (History)
Task Scheduler > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Task Scheduler > Regular Maintenance (History)


GreginMich

 

[mlrz24]

Ok. Thanks for the help. I will check all that. Pc won't let me access event viewer and task scheduler. It gives me an error message task validation incorrect. More digging into that

 

[Cliff S]

Ok. Thanks for the help. I will check all that. Pc won't let me access event viewer and task scheduler. It gives me an error message task validation incorrect. More digging into that

ooooh! That sounds like you're MMC snap-in's are broken too. Before you do any thing else open an Admin command prompt and cut and paste this in there then reboot:

[SIZE=2]Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup&sfc/scannow&Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth&sfc/scannow [/SIZE]

It'll take a while but it cleans the WinSxS folder and tries to fix corrupt system files.

 

[mlrz24]

Mmc snap ins? I will try this later. Stepping out now. You have been so helpful. Thank you. I will let you know if this works

 

[mlrz24]

didn't work I type that in and the command box pops up then disappears.

 

[Cliff S]

didn't work I type that in and the command box pops up then disappears.

You have to use an elevated(run as administrator) command prompt. When you cut & paste it from the code box, make sure you get all the code. Then the box will stay and you can see what it's doing. please try again. Here it is w/o the code box:

Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup&sfc/scannow&Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth&sfc/scannow

 

[mlrz24]

here is what it said after the program ran

 

[Cliff S]

Have you rebooted and can you access the task scheduler or event viewer now?