Defender not Running Regular Scan

Jeddie · 17 Oct 2016

I would like to know if anybody with AU version has Defender performing regular automatic scan as part of Automatic maintenance?

I am just trying to determine if this (0x2) error is a bug or not?

Bree · 17 Oct 2016

Jeddie said:

I would like to know if anybody with AU version has Defender performing regular automatic scan as part of Automatic maintenance?

Yes, mine does. I haven't set up any scheduled task myself, it's just the default 'out of the box' settings. I left it on overnight and it now shows this...

Defender not Running Regular Scan-defender-auto-scan.png

Bree · 18 Oct 2016

Bree said:

...I haven't set up any scheduled task myself...

In fact, there are no scheduled tasks for Windows Defender at all, yet it still seems to do a scan if I leave the system idle for a while.

Defender not Running Regular Scan-defender-schedule.png

Bree · 19 Oct 2016

As an experiment I left the PC on overnight. Automatic Maintenance took place, performing a Defender quick scan and a File History check (which failed as file history is on a network drive and I'd turned off WiFi). I cannot see any scheduled tasks for the automatic maintenance, Defender or File History, so I assume it must use its own timing mechanism to run these tasks.

Defender not Running Regular Scan-auto-maintenance.png

Jeddie · 19 Oct 2016

Bree said:

As an experiment I left the PC on overnight. Automatic Maintenance took place, performing a Defender quick scan and a File History check (which failed as file history is on a network drive and I'd turned off WiFi). I cannot see any scheduled tasks for the automatic maintenance, Defender or File History, so I assume it must use its own timing mechanism to run these tasks.

You are not looking in the correct location for the Task Schedule. The automatic maintenance of Defender (there are 4 tasks) including a scheduled scan are located Task Scheduler (Task Scheduler Local / Task Scheduler Library /Microsoft/ Windows / Windows Defender) as I mentioned in post #44.
Can you check there and advise? And post or PM me your settings?

Bree · 19 Oct 2016

Jeddie said:

The automatic maintenance of Defender (there are 4 tasks) including a scheduled scan are located Task Scheduler (Task Scheduler Local / Task Scheduler Library /Microsoft/ Windows / Windows Defender) as I mentioned in post #44.
Can you check there and advise?

Edit: Ah, there's more than one 'Windows Defender' - my apologies @Jeddie, I see what you mean now. Is this what you want to see?

Defender not Running Regular Scan-defender2.png

Defender not Running Regular Scan-defender-actions.png

Defender not Running Regular Scan-defender-condtiions.png

Defender not Running Regular Scan-defender-history.png

EdTittel · 20 Oct 2016

FYI, NirSoft's TaskSchedulerView utility lets you search the entire collection of defined tasks, no matter which heading they fall under. Definitely worth using when trying to find stuff in the Task Scheduler hierarchy.
HTH,
--Ed--

bru · 20 Oct 2016

After a bit of trial and error due to MS changing some requirements, my created task for running a Defender Quick Scan seems to be working just fine. This way I am assured a scan will run, on my terms. I have disabled the Automatic Maintenance scheduled task to avoid any duplication of efforts.

Jeddie · 24 Oct 2016

Bree said:

Edit: Ah, there's more than one 'Windows Defender' - my apologies @Jeddie, I see what you mean now. Is this what you want to see?

@Bree
Can you do a screenshot of your General tab please mate?

Thanks

Bree · 24 Oct 2016

@Jeddie, as requested...

Defender not Running Regular Scan-general.png

...and, FYI last night the PC was left on overnight and completed another automatic scan: