Unable to Re-Start Windows Defender Services

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  1. Posts : 319
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Unable to Re-Start Windows Defender Services


    A little background first, I downloaded a file and started to install it when Defender caught the virus, but didn't contain it. So I downloaded Malwarebytes to scan and remove the virus.

    After I loaded Malwarebytes I noticed I wasn't getting anymore Windows Defender definitions but I noticed the Windows Defender services were stopped and I figured Malwarebytes stopped it and that was the reason I wasn't getting anymore updates on Defender.

    I uninstalled Malwarebytes but now I can't restart Windows Defender.

    If I got to Control Panel then Security and Maintenance window. Both buttons to turn on Defender are grayed out.

    Unable to Re-Start Windows Defender Services-filedownloadhandler-1-.jpg

    If I search for Windows Defender in the search window on the task bar. This is the result I get.

    Unable to Re-Start Windows Defender Services-filedownloadhandler.jpg

    And lastly, if I go into Task Manager Services, there are 2 entries for Windows Defender, both are stopped. If I try to restart them this is the message I get.

    Unable to Re-Start Windows Defender Services-filedownloadhandler-2.jpg

    So is there anything I can do to restart the app or does it require more drastic steps such as reload 9926?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 29
    Microsoft Windows 7/10
       #2

    Head over to Services and make sure windows defender service is on. Not sure if the virus could have altered any settings in there, but worth a look.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5,286
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #3

    This is a common issue with Windows 10. If you install a third party AV or any security software, it breaks Defender and render it useless. The only solution is either to restore an image if you have one or re-install Win 10. Don't ask me why. But that's the way it is.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,578
    Windows 10 Home x64 Windows 10 Prox64
       #4

    badrobot said:
    This is a common issue with Windows 10. If you install a third party AV or any security software, it breaks Defender and render it useless. The only solution is either to restore an image if you have one or re-install Win 10. Don't ask me why. But that's the way it is.
    This really does seem to be the case. I found this myself, reinstall was the only solution I found to work.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 22,740
    Windows 10 Home x64
       #5

    I just encounter the same issue but for some reason I was able to just turn defender back on and it's working just fine now. It could be that the AV I was trying to install was not compatible yet and since it didn't fully install it allowed me to just turn defender back on.. just a thought.

    Jeff
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 319
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Berkey said:
    Head over to Services and make sure windows defender service is on. Not sure if the virus could have altered any settings in there, but worth a look.
    That's what posted in the first message that i couldn't restart it.

    "And lastly, if I go into Task Manager Services, there are 2 entries for Windows Defender, both are stopped. If I try to restart them this is the message I get. "

    Unable to Re-Start Windows Defender Services-filedownloadhandler-2.jpg

    So I guess I'm stuck to either get something else or reinstall it. I've looked for this answer elsewhere and was unsuccessful.

    Even there is no solution that I've gotten, I'll make this as Solved for now.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       #7

    I've installed mbam premium three or four times and never had an issue with defender borking so I doubt it's to blame here,

    But yes I did install Panda and it did the same thing disabled defender,
    Refresh install with the same flash media fixed the issue with defender but with a virus... I would clean install.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 5,442
    Windows 11 Home
       #8

    Check registry, if those items are set to 2.

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MpsSvc]
    "Start"=dword:00000002
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WdNisSvc]
    "Start"=dword:00000002
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDefend]
    "Start"=dword:00000002
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 319
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #9

    TairikuOkami said:
    Check registry, if those items are set to 2.

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MpsSvc]
    "Start"=dword:00000002
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WdNisSvc]
    "Start"=dword:00000002
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDefend]
    "Start"=dword:00000002
    Answer to your question, here are the results I found:
    MpsSvc] "Start"=dword:00000002 Yes this is set to the value of 2

    WdNisSvc] "Start"=dword:00000002 No this is set to the value of 3

    WinDefend] "Start"=dword:00000002 No this is set to the value of 3


    So is that telling you there needs to be a correction?

    Thanks,
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5,442
    Windows 11 Home
       #10

    Give it a try, 3 is Manual, 2 is Automatic service startup.
      My Computer


 

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