Automatic Scan not working

[HenryNJ]

I have Windows Defender set up to do a quick scan everyday.
These scans are not running ?
When I open defender it indicates it hasn't scanned since the last time I
forced a manual scan.
The Defender ICON in the system tray displays the green checkmark until I
reboot.
When I reboot it changes to the orange checkmark and indicates I haven't
scanned my machine since the last time I manually scanned it.

Has anyone experienced this ?
And if so, have you found a solution ?

thanks.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Are you running CCleaner? Have you asked it to clean up items related to
Windows Defender?

I have Windows Defender set up to do a quick scan everyday.
These scans are not running ?
When I open defender it indicates it hasn't scanned since the last time I
forced a manual scan.
The Defender ICON in the system tray displays the green checkmark until I
reboot.
When I reboot it changes to the orange checkmark and indicates I haven't
scanned my machine since the last time I manually scanned it.

Has anyone experienced this ?
And if so, have you found a solution ?

thanks.

--

 

[HenryNJ]

I am not running CCleaner, nor any other such product.
I use McAfee Security Center for virus, firewall and identity protection.
I have watched during the time I set under Tools, Options and the scan never
appears to start.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I neglected to ask what version of WIndows?

Assuming XP, go to control panel, add or remove programs, Windows Defender,
and repair windows defender--I think that is under change, the right button,
but you can also check under the left button or link.

I am not running CCleaner, nor any other such product.
I use McAfee Security Center for virus, firewall and identity protection.
I have watched during the time I set under Tools, Options and the scan
never
appears to start.

--

 

[Engel]

Hello Henry,

It helps those answering your questions if you pÑovide your operating system
and service pack information (e.g. Windows XP SP2, Vista SP1)
-=-

 

[HenryNJ]

Engel,
I'm sorry, I'm new to this.
I included that information in my profile and thought it redundant to do so
again.

I am using Windows XP HE SP3

 

[Kayman]

I have Windows Defender set up to do a quick scan everyday.
These scans are not running ?
When I open defender it indicates it hasn't scanned since the last time I
forced a manual scan.
The Defender ICON in the system tray displays the green checkmark until I
reboot.
When I reboot it changes to the orange checkmark and indicates I haven't
scanned my machine since the last time I manually scanned it.
Has anyone experienced this ?
And if so, have you found a solution ?

Uninstall, Reboot - twice), Re-Install, Reboot - twice, Update, Done.
Good luck

 

[HenryNJ]

Bill,

I tried this and it did not work, as the automatic scans still did not run.
I am now following Kayman's suggestion.
I have removed Windows Defender and rebooted (not sure why twice, but, I
did, just in case).
I have reinstalled Defender, rebooted twice again and will see if the
automatic scans run now.
Thanks for the help.

Question, does XP support 64 bit applications ?
(I didn't see a 32 bit Defender available).

thanks again.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

64-bit versions of Windows support 64-bit applications. There is a 64-bit
version of XP, but if you are not sure you are running it, you are very
probably not--very few people, relatively, are.

There are 64-bit versions of Vista, and of comparable Server versions of
Windows.

The 64-bit version of windows should refuse to install on a 32-bit OS
version.

This confusion has come up periodically--did you go directly to Microsoft
for Windows Defender? If not, www.microsoft.com/defender should get you
there,

Bill,

I tried this and it did not work, as the automatic scans still did not
run.
I am now following Kayman's suggestion.
I have removed Windows Defender and rebooted (not sure why twice, but, I
did, just in case).
I have reinstalled Defender, rebooted twice again and will see if the
automatic scans run now.
Thanks for the help.

Question, does XP support 64 bit applications ?
(I didn't see a 32 bit Defender available).

thanks again.

I neglected to ask what version of WIndows?

Assuming XP, go to control panel, add or remove programs, Windows
Defender,
and repair windows defender--I think that is under change, the right
button,
but you can also check under the left button or link.

--

 

[HenryNJ]

Bill,
I did go tot eh microsoft website, but to be safe, I removed Defender again
and relaoded. Again, the install process requested that i VERIFY, so i
assume it verified that I have the correct OS for the version of Defender
being loaded.
I did make a change this time though.
In the past i have not elected to become a member of Microsoft Spynet, this
time I selected that option to see if it makes a difference.
I have an autoscan scheduled for 13 minutes from now, i should know soon if
that resolved the problem.
I'll let you know.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

If it installed, you picked the correct download.

The Spynet choice should make no difference to your issue.

If it fails this time, we should troubleshoot scheduled tasks and see
whether perhaps the scheduler service is not set to autostart.

Bill,
I did go tot eh microsoft website, but to be safe, I removed Defender
again
and relaoded. Again, the install process requested that i VERIFY, so i
assume it verified that I have the correct OS for the version of Defender
being loaded.
I did make a change this time though.
In the past i have not elected to become a member of Microsoft Spynet,
this
time I selected that option to see if it makes a difference.
I have an autoscan scheduled for 13 minutes from now, i should know soon
if
that resolved the problem.
I'll let you know.

Thanks again for your help.

64-bit versions of Windows support 64-bit applications. There is a
64-bit
version of XP, but if you are not sure you are running it, you are very
probably not--very few people, relatively, are.

There are 64-bit versions of Vista, and of comparable Server versions of
Windows.

The 64-bit version of windows should refuse to install on a 32-bit OS
version.

This confusion has come up periodically--did you go directly to Microsoft
for Windows Defender? If not, www.microsoft.com/defender should get you
there,

--

 

[HenryNJ]

Bill,
As you suspected, it didn't start (autoscan).
I went in to Services and you are correct, Task Scheduler was not started.
I started it and set it to Automatic for future reboots.
I've set the Defender Autoscan for the next hour.
Hopefully that will do the trick.
I didn't think of Task Scheduler, as my McAfee does weekly virus signature
updates, apparently not via Task Scheduler.
I REALLY do appreciate your help.

Henry

 

[HenryNJ]

Bill and all,
That was it.
Once I had Task Scheduler on, the Autoscan ran.
I wonder how we could recommend to Microsoft that the Task Scheduler setting
get modified so that it starts automatically if you elect to use Defender
Autoscan ?
If not, this information (that Task Scheduler is require) should be provided
when you select Autoscan in Defender.

Thanks very much for all your help.

Henry

Bill,
As you suspected, it didn't start (autoscan).
I went in to Services and you are correct, Task Scheduler was not started.
I started it and set it to Automatic for future reboots.
I've set the Defender Autoscan for the next hour.
Hopefully that will do the trick.
I didn't think of Task Scheduler, as my McAfee does weekly virus signature
updates, apparently not via Task Scheduler.
I REALLY do appreciate your help.

Henry

 

[Bill Sanderson]

That's terrific--should have thought of that first. The task scheduler is
set to autostart by default when the OS is installed. Some web sites
recommend changing it if you don't use it, but that may have the result that
you experienced.

I agree that it would be nice if Windows Defender checked the status of the
scheduler service when a scan is scheduled. I could experiment on Windows
7 to see whether it does.

Bill and all,
That was it.
Once I had Task Scheduler on, the Autoscan ran.
I wonder how we could recommend to Microsoft that the Task Scheduler
setting
get modified so that it starts automatically if you elect to use Defender
Autoscan ?
If not, this information (that Task Scheduler is require) should be
provided
when you select Autoscan in Defender.

Thanks very much for all your help.

Henry

--

 

[HenryNJ]

Bill,
That would be great.
But even something as simple as a notation on the Defender TOOLS, OPTIONS
page indicating that Task Scheduler is used, in the Automatic Scan settings
section, would be beneficial. As least it would have been for me.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[David L. Dyke]

I have just had the same problem. Scheduled Scans does not work. I have
deleted an reinstalled the program. No good. By Default, WD scan should be
accomplished eveyday at 2 AM. But it does not happen. I want to try and
'turn-on' the Task Scheduler like it is suggested here, but being a 'newbie'
I do not know where to go. Can someone direct me?

I am using XP Home.
--
Help!

Please someone respond!

Bill,
That would be great.
But even something as simple as a notation on the Defender TOOLS, OPTIONS
page indicating that Task Scheduler is used, in the Automatic Scan settings
section, would be beneficial. As least it would have been for me.

Thanks again for your help.