How to turn off or suspend Windows Defender?

[Guest]

Windows Defender is blocking a certain file. I did download the MS
instructions for checking "unblock" for this file, but the instructions do
not exactly fit my situation. So I want to at least temporarily turn
off/disable Defender. How?

 

[AW Barton]

Windows Defender is blocking a certain file. I did download the MS
instructions for checking "unblock" for this file, but the instructions do
not exactly fit my situation. So I want to at least temporarily turn
off/disable Defender. How?

I thought Windows Defender came with Vista, not XP.

 

[Gary Brandenburg]

To turn real-time protection on or off

1.. Open Windows Defender by clicking Start, clicking Programs, and then clicking
Windows Defender.
2.. Click Tools, and then click Options.
3.. Under Real-time protection options, select the Use real-time protection
(recommended) check box.
4.. Select the options that you want. To help protect your privacy and your
computer, we recommend that you select all real-time protection options.
5.. Under Choose if Windows Defender should notify you about:, select the options
you want, and then click Save.
(You may have to scroll down to get to this)

~Gary

 

[Gary Brandenburg]

Oops-That was the instructions for *enabling* RTP & from the Defender Help Page.
You'll have to uncheck that box on #3

~Gary

 

[MaryL]

I thought Windows Defender came with Vista, not XP.

I have XP, but I downloaded Windows Defender. It did not come with the
original setup.

MaryL

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I thought Windows Defender came with Vista, not XP.

It's available for both.

 

[Guest]

I have tried to follow step 1. I cannot find Windows Defender. Perhaps
someone can tell me how to alphabetize the list of programs. Perhaps it is
hidden under some other name.

 

[Gary Brandenburg]

To do that, you need to click on "All Programs" & while the list is still up, right
click on them & click "Sort By Name".
If it's not on there, go to "Control Panel" & then "Software Explorer" & it will
bring up Defender showing the startup items.
At the top, click on Tools, then Options, then scroll down to the *Use real-time
protection(recommended)*section.

~Gary

 

[Guest]

I found that after selecting "sort by name" I got twoconsecutive lists of
programs, from ABBYY to Yahoo Messenger, followed by Acrobat Distiller to
Yahoo Mail. But no visible entry for Windows Defender. I then went to
Control Panel, and found no "software Explorer"

Then I wondered if I even have Defender installed at all, anymore. I used
to, before I did a destructive reinstall of XP a few weeks ago.. Now I have
a Security Center, but nothing called Defender. Maybe I do not have it
anymore, after the destructive reinstall. I apologize for being mistaken.

But what about that "Software Explorer?" Should I be seeing that?

 

[Gary Brandenburg]

If you did a reinstall, then you're right, it's not part of the operating system with
XP.
Software Explorer is a function of Defender so you won't find that either since you
no longer have the program.

Thanks for getting back with your findings.

~Gary