Spyware, viruses, & security forum: Windows Defender quit working

Jerome..

You failed to mention, which operating system you're using. If it's Windows 2000, it's no longer available for your system.

If you're using another system and have taken "aamit81's" advice, you may no longer have the problem. In the future, if you need to find Defender's services click Start>Run. Type services.msc in the open box and click OK. Once you find Windows Defender service, double-click on it. Choose Automatic in "Startup Type". Then OK.

You said, 'I do occasionally get a window giving me scan results but not saying anything about what program it is and perhaps is Defender. This would lead me to believe you don't know where it is. (My apologies, if I've taken this for granted.) If you click on Start, then All Programs, you should be able to locate it, and open it from there. Once there, you can also right-click on the entry and send it to your desktop where it will create a shortcut, should you wish. This will allow you to see your settings (Tools|Options) and also allow you to run a scan, when needed.

Best of luck to you..
Carol

Windows Defender will still protect the computer's browsers. Firefox has the ability to use various plugins which allow it to perform online services which it doesn't do by default..(Java, Flash, Shockwave, etc.) One of the optional plugins is "ActiveX" which is actually a security hole.. Unless you actually need a particular plugin, it's generally safer to NOT install them.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Jerome..

You asked if it was best to remove a program via Add/Remove, or Software Explorer. Best use Add/Remove. The below from Windows Defender Help file for Software Explorer, should give you a better idea of what it was designed to do.

What is Software Explorer

Software Explorer in Windows Defender allows you to view detailed information about software that is currently running on your computer and that can affect your privacy or the security of your computer. You can see, for example, which programs run automatically when you start Windows and information about how these programs interact with important Windows programs and services.

Software Explorer helps you monitor the following items:

-Startup programs, which are programs that run automatically when you start Windows, with or without your knowledge.
-Currently running programs, which are programs that are currently running on the screen or in the background.
-Network-connected programs, which are programs or processes that can connect to the Internet or to your home or office network.
-Winsock service providers, which are programs that perform low-level networking and communication services for Windows and programs that run on Windows. These programs often have access to important areas of the operating system.

Further good luck..
Carol

Jerome,

I should have been clearer, when I wrote ' you can also right-click on the entry and send it to your desktop where it will create a shortcut' . When you right click on WD, the content menu will show "send to". Hover over "send to", then follow it to where you see "Desktop (create shortcut)". When you click on Desktop, it should create the icon. I think will help clear things up. If not, post back.

Carol

I'm not on a Vista machine at the moment, but you should be able to "make" Windows restart Defender when it quits. Open the "Run" line, then type: services.msc, then click on OK. When the "Services" window loads, scroll to the "Windows Defender" listing and double click on it. When the Windows Defender Service properties window loads, make sure the "Startup Type" is "Automatic". In addition, if the "Status" line says: "Stopped", then click on the button to "Start" it.. Then click on the "Recovery" tab at the top. In the "First Failure" line, make sure it says: "Restart Service".. Do the same in the "Second Failure" line.. IN the "Subsequent Failure" line, I normally leave it as "Take no action" because you don't want the service to continue attempting a restart if there's something wrong.. But it is possible to select "Restart Service" in this section as well..

Hope this helps.

Grif

The "run" line is no longer in the start menu as it was in XP but it can still be accessed easily.

Press the "Windows Key" (the one between the Ctrl and the Alt keys) + "R" at the same time.

or

Click on Start, then in the little "Search" window, type "Run", click OK, and the "Run line" will show up..

To make it permanent:

1. Right click on Vista Orb Start button.
2. Select Properties on the right click menu.
3. Ensure that youre at Start Menu tab.
4. There are 2 radio button available - Start menu and Classic Start menu. Click on the Customize button at the back of the whichever radio button is been selected.
5. For Start menu, scroll down to the list to almost bottom, and select (tick) Run command. For Classic Start menu, select (tick) Display Run option.
6. Click OK when done.

You should now see Run command line on the Vista Start menu.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Hey Grif it's working!! thank you very much! it was shut off thanks a million! microsoft should speak so clear & concise!! thanks gby Dale

Hi Hey Grif another question for you if you don't mind..?
I have a acer aspire 5100 it will not shut off correctly? I can log off open the other user then shut down sometimes that works sometimes not I started in safe mode then shut down it shut down fast I then logged on & at log in point I went to the little red button lower right corner & shut it down there it worked . I did that a couple times thinking maybe it would correct itself like good "ole?" XP it hasen't fixed itself yet . the last time I tried shutting it down I tapped the F5 key while it said shutting down & it shut down evidently the browser? is hanging? I dunno ? got ADHD , I ain't dumb just gets confusing. I appreciate the help thanks ! Dale

I got it running "Cam" suggested downloading "tune-up" I did & it fixed the reg problem boy thats a pretty good program lots of tools in it again ty for your help! gb Dale