Defender won't update for me either

[Guest]

Well the only good thing about coming here is that I know it is not just my
computer. I went to un-install and Defender isn't even listed. So I tried to
just override it by installing a new Defender, and I get a message that tells
me I have Defender as part of Vista, so I don't have to install it. A lot of
good it does me to have it if it refuses to update, and yes I get the same
code as everone else here. I replaced One Care woth Norton because of these
types of issues. Why can't a company a big as Microsoft provide things as
small as software that works right, or at least provide the owners of that
software with a fix that works? Now it looks like I am stuck with a faulty
program, that interferes with everthing I try to do, that will not update, so
it is going to get further and further out of date until it begins to create
problems, and I can't even disable it. Thanks Microsoft, I love you too. Why
didn't you just install cool-web-search as part of Vista and be done with it.

 

[Guest]

I wish Microsoft would make it easier for us. If they can't or won't make
software that functions properly, at lest don't make us search for the fixes.
They know the first place people are going to go to is the defender home
page. They should swallow their pride, and put the fix there where users can
find it.

 

[Alan D]

I wish Microsoft would make it easier for us.

Ah, if only. I can't help you with your problem, but I sure can sympathise
with these sentiments.

 

[Guest]

Yep, I posted last night, and still no luck this morning...I suspect the
defender definition file is corrupt....?

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

Since you haven't posted what code you get, I won't assume that you are
getting the one which has a KB article--which presumably you've also spotted
in other posts and tried?

If corruption of the installed definition files is a problem, what I've done
in the past is to blow the definitions back to 1.0.0. and then go off to
autoupdate or Windows Update or whatever and get current again. This
usually works.

How to blow the definitions away:

Go to a command prompt in the Windows Defender installation folder
(typically c:\program files\windows defender)

mpcmdrun /RemoveDefinitions /All

and hit enter.

Then go to WindowsUpdate and do an express scan.


--

 

[Guest]

I understand Defender is part of Vista so why does it not allow you to turn
Windows Defender on in the Windows Security Centre?
When I attempt to turn it on it reports that "There are no new definitions
available to download for Windows Defender".

 

[Guest]

Hello GPH,

WD Run as a service.

When you boot up, WD is earnign the money. (is ON)

Check the task bar "Process"

 

[Guest]

Worked like a charm! Thanks

Since you haven't posted what code you get, I won't assume that you are
getting the one which has a KB article--which presumably you've also spotted
in other posts and tried?

If corruption of the installed definition files is a problem, what I've done
in the past is to blow the definitions back to 1.0.0. and then go off to
autoupdate or Windows Update or whatever and get current again. This
usually works.

How to blow the definitions away:

Go to a command prompt in the Windows Defender installation folder
(typically c:\program files\windows defender)

mpcmdrun /RemoveDefinitions /All

and hit enter.

Then go to WindowsUpdate and do an express scan.