Windows Vista: Windows Defender
Windows Defender
by jmckinney2525 - 4/12/07 11:32 PMWindows Defender says it needs to update the definitions. I run the update program and it says I can't update Defender. I have no idea why it is doing this. Can anybody help? Thanks.
Windows Update
by auggief - 4/13/07 2:09 AM In reply to: Windows Defender by jmckinney2525I usually update defender using windows update. Will that work for you?
Windows Defender
by jmckinney2525 - 4/13/07 9:52 AM In reply to: Windows Update by auggiefI tried running Windows Update thinking the same thing, but it said Windows was up to date. Windows Defender still says it's out of date.
Bump
by jmckinney2525 - 4/14/07 11:45 AM In reply to: Windows Defender by jmckinney2525Bump
Not Sure
by auggief - 4/16/07 2:50 AM In reply to: Bump by jmckinney2525I think I had this problem once so I uninstalled Defender and redownloaded and installed it . I assume I had a corrupt file.
Windows Defender
by titikun - 4/16/07 6:24 AM In reply to: Windows Defender by jmckinney2525Hi my first post, i previously had this problem on updating wif error.
Your need :
first restart yr computer to safe mode
@Safe mode , go to yr C: or go to START type %windows%
Search for "SoftwareDistribution" edit to "SoftwareDistribution.old"
if u not sure the directory
---> (c:)OS -> (Windows) --> SoftwareDistribution
Once done, restart yr computer. try update
This info was once i got it from microsoft website. sry i lost the direct link.
Uninstall Defender
by jmckinney2525 - 4/16/07 9:02 PM In reply to: Windows Defender by titikunHow do you uninstall Defender? I can't uninstall it from the control panel.
Uninstall
by auggief - 4/17/07 1:13 AM In reply to: Uninstall Defender by jmckinney2525I probably didn't uninstall it but just downloaded and installed it right over what I had and that helped
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Defender Update Vista Problem
by Lance Otis - 5/3/07 12:04 PM In reply to: Windows Defender by jmckinney2525This problem has been around since last September. Dont waste your time looking on Microsoft's sites for solution.
This worked for me:
1. Go to Windows Security Center, select Windows Update from lefthand pane area.
2. View your update history by clicking on underlined "view update history" . Check how recent you have been getting auto updates - you may find that you have not been getting them for some time, even if you have auto update selected.
3. Select change settings from the lefthand pane.
4. Select Never check for updates and uncheck all check boxes. Note that if you have Microsofts update service checked you will have to go back and re-activate it later to get back its check box.
5. Select OK to OK all the changes - this will turn off all auto updates.
6. Exit out of the Windows security Center. Have a cup of coffee. Then Go back to the Windows Security Center and check for updates (you have to be online). You will no doubt find that you have several - I had 9 - updates that were never automatically downloaded, including the latest Defender update.
7. Update your computer, then go back and re-enstate auto updating in reverse of steps 1-4.
Although it does not happen every month, I have had to continue to do this every time the update problem re-occurs.
Good luck.
Loser Bit of Crapware "Windows Defender"
by soldano - 5/4/07 7:50 AM In reply to: Windows Defender by jmckinney2525Microsoft Defender is as useful catching spyware as a sieve is for catching water.
M$ has never really made a contentious effort to keep you safe. Try running adaware which is still not a great product and see it picks up a bucket more parasites that defender swore to protect you against. Pit that against the amount of grief defender is in maintaining and you quickly come to the realization it is nothing shy of junkware.
Rid yourself of defender and use time proven tools (Spybot / Adaware and a decent AV like NOD32 …..lose any AV made by Macrappy , Crapamntec or heck and while I’m at anything Boxed by Computer Associates. Run anti spyware programs every few days and you should be fine.
I am inclined to agree with you :(
by glenn30 - 5/4/07 1:52 PM In reply to: Loser Bit of Crapware "Windows Defender" by soldanoAll I want to do is uninstall Windows Defender and rid myself of it once and for all. It has not and will not update since April 23, 2007. Microsoft troubleshooting instructions are too cumbersome and complicated... not worth time and effort fooling with it.
May have missed it but I am finding no way to remove the program... its not listed in the Control Panel under Programs and Features. Anyone know a way. I want to completely remove it and not disable it.
Glenn
Sorry Glenn...
by John.Wilkinson
- 5/4/07 4:02 PM
In reply to: I am inclined to agree with you :( by glenn30
Defender is actually a part of Vista now, not just an add-on, so the only way to remove it is to hack away at the OS. I'm sure someone is working on a program to do just that, as has been done with IE, but it's certainly not advisable.
John
Thanks John...
by glenn30 - 5/4/07 5:35 PM In reply to: Sorry Glenn... by John.Wilkinson
I have no intention of hacking away at it nor the stomach to attempt it. I am nearing the limits of patience with Vista. I know it is the worst operating system I have ever experienced including Windows ME. It has more bugs than Carter has liver pills. Every day something has changed or does not operate as designed. Just today the Control Panel is changed from the Classic View for some sudden and unknown reason. The link in the left sidebar to change back to Classic view does not function as designed... nothing happens!
My apologies for complaining but this system stinks... may be secure but surely not functional! If Microsoft could not make it functional in 5 years in the making, then I certainly am in no position to make it work.
I am about ready to give it the boot (no pun intended)! It's little wonder there is such reluctance in accepting the software by government and business where dependability is critical. I know there are some who will disagree and they are entitled to their opinion. I only know my experience on a new machine that was designed for the O/S. I had no option to decline Vista. That stinks too but is a whole other story!
Sorry for the rant! 
Glenn
work around
by unclebic - 5/16/07 4:45 PM In reply to: Thanks John... by glenn30I came here after a search and found a work around that won't involve messing with the OS. I run UltraVNC and so far it isn't up to date for Vista yet so I have to run it as a startup program instead of a service. Defender was blocking this. Defender sucks for a problem like this since it's not obvious on how to "allow" a program to start automatically if it isn't yet classified.
If you go to the "Tools" then "Options" in Defender you can scroll down the page and tell it not to run in real time, as well as a couple of check boxes at the bottom of the Options page that are about Administrator and other accounts running Defender. You may want to un-check everything on that page that will make it run including the scans. Also you'll probably have to turn off the user account control to let all these changes happen. I think the idea behind having these security features built into Vista is a good one, my issues are about the implementation. Defender isn't friendly enough and the user account control...
If I can find a way to truly get rid of Defender without tearing into Vista, I'll post back.
Good luck,
vic
work around
by wpfossil - 5/25/07 5:36 PM In reply to: work around by unclebicThe biggest problem with Windows Defender is its need to constantly reboot your computer to install its updates. That's why I got rid of it. To shut this silly piece of junkware off, just open it up from the start menu. Then click tools, options, and unclick the "Use Windows Defender" box. You'll have to scroll down to the bottom where the admin options are.
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