Can't Reactivate RealTime Option

[Guest]

Hello,
I have a very bizarre problem. I had wanted to push the registry setting
to disable the realtime protection option on all our computers. So I'm
testing it on my computer. I disabled it fine. The problem is, I can't for
the life of me get it re-enabled again. I tried reinstalling defender,
deleting the "DisableAntiSpywareRealtimeProtection" key, manually checking it
back on in Options. Rebooted. Did a scan. Nothing works. I cannot get it to
do the realtime protection on my computer anymore. Has anyone else
experienced this?

Thanx, Janet

 

[Guest]

look at Services (under Administrative Tools). See if Windows Defender
Service shows started. I am a little curious why you just didn't use System
Restore after you had modified the registry for your test?

 

[Guest]

Sorry, I was not clear about the Services. If the Windows Service is
stopped, you would be seeing error messages when you try to use WD. Set the
real time protection option and then under Services, Restart WD service.
Check the system event logs and see if there are any WD warning messages
about real time protection.

 

[Guest]

Glad your testing was thorough! I haven't tried this myself. The background
Windows Defender service needs to be running to provide real-time
protection--I agree with Mr Cat. One thought that I have is to make sure all
the Windows Defender processes are not running when you make the registry
change--msmpeng.exe, msascui.exe. (Interestingly, running on Vista, I can't
find any sign of msmpeng.exe on the system--I'm pretty sure this is a Good
Thing, but I haven't spotted where it is hiding!)

 

[Guest]

Thanx a lot. I didn't realize there was a Windows Defender service.