Error Code: 0x080240029 windows defender cannot update definitions

[Dave M]

Hi MJEgner;

Looks like your several definitions and an engine version behind. No
guarantees, but how about trying this new KB to see if you can't jump start
Defender. Let us know how you make out with it. Please notice the Run as
Administrator note if you're on Vista...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923159/

 

[Guest]

Many thanks for your advice!!!

Like you, I think I read every post newsgroup. Solution is actually pretty
simple. Go to Windows update. Click on change settings (on the left). Check
"never check for updates." Remove any other checks (Recommended update and
any other). Then go back to Defender and run the Updates again. Version
downloaded should read 1.15.2336.7. It will also download a couple? of
Windows updates. After, don't forget to go back to Win updates and change
back to auto setting. Good Luck.

 

[Guest]

Hi Robert531,

I followed your suggestion but does not work Man, I read alsomost every
suggestion. Got any others, thanks

Warmly Stephan

 

[Guest]

TY ROBERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Worked perfectly well for me

 

[Guest]

Worked like a charm after a bunch of headache reading all sorts of things
that didn't work! Much appreciated!

 

[Guest]

Like you, I think I read every post newsgroup. Solution is actually pretty
simple. Go to Windows update. Click on change settings (on the left). Check
"never check for updates." Remove any other checks (Recommended update and
any other). Then go back to Defender and run the Updates again. Version
downloaded should read 1.15.2336.7. It will also download a couple? of
Windows updates. After, don't forget to go back to Win updates and change
back to auto setting. Good Luck.

 

[Guest]

Hi Robert,

Very helpful, thanks!

Like you, I think I read every post newsgroup. Solution is actually pretty
simple. Go to Windows update. Click on change settings (on the left). Check
"never check for updates." Remove any other checks (Recommended update and
any other). Then go back to Defender and run the Updates again. Version
downloaded should read 1.15.2336.7. It will also download a couple? of
Windows updates. After, don't forget to go back to Win updates and change
back to auto setting. Good Luck.

 

[Guest]

Thank you so much for the solution.
I cant understand why when you buy a new laptop from HP with windows Vista
installed, neither HP NOR MICROSOFT are able to support their own product and
do nothign but give you the run around!!!!... So much for CUSTOMER support...

OK, I got that out of my system....

 

[Guest]

Hi. I am getting thie above error in windows defender when it tries to
update the definitions. I have seen other messages and have tried the
solutions but to no avail. I have vista home premium and it tells me that
windows defender is within vista and cannot find a way to uninstall to
re-install. Can anyone help me out.

Direct from MS Support

1. Start the computer in safe mode. To do this, follow these steps:a.
Restart the computer.
b. Press the F8 key as the computer restarts.

Note You have to press the F8 key before the Windows Vista progress
indicator appears.
c. When the Advanced Boot Options menu appears, use the arrow keys to
select the Safe Mode option, and then press ENTER.

2. Rename the SoftwareDistribution folder. To do this, follow these steps:a.
Click Start, type %windir% in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

Note In this step, %windir% represents the path of the Windows system
folder. Typically, C:\Windows is the path of the Windows system folder.
b. Locate the SoftwareDistribution folder.
c. Right-click the SoftwareDistribution folder, and then click Rename.
d. Type SoftwareDistribution.old, and then press ENTER.

3. Restart the computer.

 

[Guest]

Don't know how you figured this out, but it worked for me. Thank you. This
is the kind of thing that sells Mac's.

 

[Guest]

Nice one, top man. I was getting really annoyed.
Cheers.

 

[Guest]

That worked awesome and it made windows update a few things that it hadn't
already.
CodyKT

 

[Guest]

Why do I have to constantly do this in order to check for updates? It's a bit
annoying. I was also told of another alternative solution in renaming the
direction softwareDistribution to softwareDistribution.old. That worked once.
Then the same problem reoccurred. I tried renaming softwareDistribution and
now it tells me I don't have access to the file.

What are the alternate solutions you mention in your post? Unchecking
auto=update and re-checking everytime to get updates is very frustrating.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dave M]

The reason you don't have access to the file is that it's in use by the
system. If you follow this KB from Microsoft from SAFE mode you won't have
that problem:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/934562/en-us

 

[Guest]

Thank u so much for this advice. It worked just fine, and now after 2 hours
of trying to solve the problem, i can get back to work! Why does this happen??

 

[Guest]

Robert, when you say go back to windows defender and run the updates again ,
do you mean from the www.microsoft.com site? I've run windows update and it
says everything is up to date? Just need this one clarification to resolve
my issue! thanks!!!

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

I'm not sure whether Robert is still tuned in. What happens will differ
over time. If you've gone to Windows Update and been told you are current,
you are fine. Remember the detail of setting it back to automatic, if that
is your preference--I recommend it.

--

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the Follow-up Bill. I can't even open up Windows defender? I
get an "application failed to initialize 0x80070002" error. Even if I go
through the steps in Roberts message? Any suggestions where I go from here?

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

Ok - rather than Robert's steps, which I think are a short cut, let's try
the proper KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/934562

This is tricky--it involves starting Vista in safe mode, which is something
I'm not sure I've ever done--but that's what I would try.

--

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your help Bill. I actually found this KB article and completed
the steps before I put up these messages. When I try to open Windows
Defender I get this error message "Application failed to initialize:
0x80070002" Cpould this have something to do with having Windows Live
OneCare active on my computer? If so then I will wait till the trial ends
and try to get Windows Defender up and running again.

Thanks for all your help!