Windows Defender Not Found

[jrb1950]

Windows wants to run an update for Windows Defender originally installed on
my computer. Somewhere along the way it's now missing. When I click on the
icon I get 'not found' , when I click on it in my Start Up list I get the
message C:\ProgramFiles\WindowsDefender\MSASCui.exe The specified bath does
not exist. I tried going to the Windows Defender website and downloading it
again, but get the message already installed with my Windows Vista OS. How
do I correct this and get it back. It's not even listed in my Control Panel
Programs where you're supposed to be able to highlight a program and
uninstall or change. I also tried using the Windows Vista CD supplied by
Dell, but it doesn't appear that you can pick and choose what programs you
want reinstalled.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Go to start, all programs, accessories.

Right click on "command prompt" and choose "run as administrator"

In the black command prompt window type:

sfc /scannow

and hit enter.

You may need to restart the machine at the end of the operation.

 

[jrb1950]

I did as you suggested and at the end this was the message:
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some
of them.
Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
example C:\Windows\Logs\Cbs|Cbs.log

I'm sorry but I'm a novice when it comes to fixing computer errors, I don't
know what I'm supposed to do next, where to find those details or even what
to do with them if I were to find the. But thank you for the prior
information. If you can help me further, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I've looked at the content of this log file on my own system, and I'm not at
all sure I could make sense out of what yours may show, nor am I sure I
could guide you through the steps necessary to look at it--it is a protected
Operating System file, and not so easy to just glance at as the message
implies.

Here's what I would recommend, if you have the time and the patience, and
are in the U.S. or Canada.

Call 1-866-pcsafety

This is a toll-free call to Microsoft Product Support. It is limited to
issues involving Security patches, viruses or spyware, but I believe your
issue qualifies because Windows Defender is a security component of Windows
Vista--it should be working.

I've generally, but not always, found these folks to be pretty helpful--but
sometimes it takes some persistence, and perhaps a bump up to the next level
support staff if the first level can't successfully solve the problem.

If you are not in the U.S. or Canada, this same help is available, but the
phone call may not be toll-free--you should call the nearest number for
fee-based Microsoft support, and ask for the free help with security patch,
virus, or spyware related issues.

If you are able to go this route (I think the help is 24 hour)--I'd love to
hear how they solve the problem--or at least whether they do!

And, if for some reason this route isn't something you feel you can do, let
me know, and I'll see if I can get some guidance about how to interpret the
CBS log file..

Bill Sanderson

 

[jrb1950]

I would be willing to try that but I have dial-up without another phone line;
so couldn't be online while getting help from them. I would have to try a
support system that has chat where I could do everything while online. I can
right click on Windows Defender and Run as administrator to open it and do a
scan and I was also allowed to do the Microsoft update too. But since I have
another anti-virus program that I can do scans and directory updates, I've
decided not to worry about the lack of Windows Defender. My biggest issue
now is trying to get rid of a reinstallation of Windows Vista, that I
stupidly did trying to get back Windows Defender. I was informed by Dell
support that it would required contacting Dell o-call which is fee based. At
this time I don't have the fee to pay so I'm getting around that for now by
choosing the original Windows Vista choice when I first turn on my computer.
Thanks again for assistance.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

If your current antivirus covers spyware as well, not worrying about Windows
Defender seems a reasonable course.

Is your issue about the alternative version of Windows just the extra effort
at startup time, or the disk space involved?

If what you need is a way to change the default startup choice so that if
you do nothing, the old version will be what starts, that may be something
we can manage here--it isn't on topic for the groups, but I've done this on
my own systems.

The native way to do this is a command line process and since your machine
is different from mine, I don't think I can give you precise instructions.
However, there are third-party tools that make this easier to do--let me see
if I can find a reference to one of those. With the help of a visual tool,
this should be very easy to do.


--

I would be willing to try that but I have dial-up without another phone
line;
so couldn't be online while getting help from them. I would have to try a
support system that has chat where I could do everything while online. I
can
right click on Windows Defender and Run as administrator to open it and do
a
scan and I was also allowed to do the Microsoft update too. But since I
have
another anti-virus program that I can do scans and directory updates, I've
decided not to worry about the lack of Windows Defender. My biggest issue
now is trying to get rid of a reinstallation of Windows Vista, that I
stupidly did trying to get back Windows Defender. I was informed by Dell
support that it would required contacting Dell o-call which is fee based.
At
this time I don't have the fee to pay so I'm getting around that for now
by
choosing the original Windows Vista choice when I first turn on my
computer.
Thanks again for assistance.