Uninstall Windows Defender

[bugbo1st]

I am having the worse time uninstalling defender. I went to the add/remove
program screen and tried to remove the program, but it says I need a disk to
do it (which I don't have). Is there anyway to get around this?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Is this on Windows XP, or on Vista.

If this is happening on Windows XP, simply download and install Windows
Defender again, from Microsoft. This should correct the issues preventing
the uninstall--then, you should be able to uninstall cleanly--strange, but
true.

www.microsoft.com/defender

should get you to the download.

 

[Bill]

Bill,

What about uninstall for Vista? We use a different security solution, so we
don't need Defender. We would like to uninstall it completely from Visa, not
just disable it. I've seen the post's on disabling by stopping the service,
etc. That's not the route we want to take. Is there a way to uninstall it?

 

[Nathan Hammack]

I too would like to know how to uninstall Defender from Vista considering
it's not listed in the programs and features with much of the other
applications I have installed. Alternatively it's not even listed under the
application's root folder (C:\Program Files\Windows Defender) - I too have an
alternate solution to security and would prefer Vista not bother me about
"New" updates for Defender if I'm not even using it. I'd rather it just be
gone, because I don't use it and therefore don't need it.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

In Vista, Defender is part of the OS. You cannot uninstall it, and it isn't
listed as a Windows component that you can add or remove optionally.

Disabling it via its interface should be all that is needed. I would expect
that most current security solutions would be able to accomplish this on
their own as an option chosen at install time--but I haven't much experience
with other solutions on Vista at this point.

There's no need to go disabling services manually--just go to tools,
options, and choose the option near the end that says something like "do not
use Windows Defender."

This can also be done via Group Policy, I believe.

 

[Bill]

Dave,

We already have multiple layers of security on our systems (firewall at the
gateway, F-Secure Internet Gatekeeper on the gateway and F-Secure AV for
Workstation on the desktops). We just don't see the need of having unwanted,
unused software on the desktops, taking up space and system resources.

 

[nocturnal-001]

I would like to repair Defender. I have Vista HP. And the file
"MsMpRes.dll" is replaced by a file "sMpRes.dll"

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Any idea how that happened? Are you sure the system is virus free now?

System restore to a date before this happened?

I think a repair install of Vista is probably the right way to fix this.
I've done this a couple of times--it isn't real quick, and it is quite
boring to watch, but it does work in the end, and doesn't lose your programs
or data. You need to have an OS CD, though, and some machines don't come
with that these days..

I would like to repair Defender. I have Vista HP. And the file
"MsMpRes.dll" is replaced by a file "sMpRes.dll"

 

[Bill]

I know this is off-topic, but I think if you have to do a repair / re-install
of the OS, because of a broken software package, ie. Windows Defender.....
Kinda ridiculous, don't you think?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I don't know all the ins and outs of the decision to not make Windows
Defender a removable piece.

In the end, it isn't--and a repair is the available option--just as with
some piece of the networking stack or any number of other portions of the OS
that could get corrupted.

This breakage is pretty infrequent--the only clear cause I'm aware of is a
system is running XP, is upgraded to Vista, and then the user attempts to
uninstall Defender via the entry in control panel, programs, which
unfortunately remains.

Even that situation is quite rare. The process of picking a piece of the OS
to compartmentalize and offer the add/remove option has a monetary
cost--probably higher than you or I would guess. I'm not going to second
guess the decision making from my distant perspective.
(not saying you can't, of course!--just giving my opinion.)

 

[toni]

I just want to ask you a couple of questions as I,m not really up on internet
security, if you don,t mind?

I have Kaspersky Internet Security (the full package one - think its a 7.0)
and at the same time out of nowhere a few months ago, the Windows Defender
(and icon) made its appearance. Every time I go into my computer it says
something about its location in a little box above the icon and then
dissappears - but one thing I do notice in this box is the french word
"bonjour". This box comes up far too often and is annoying - I want to
uninstall Windows Defender but cannot find it under the install/uninstall
programs in the control panel.

Is it true that I cannot uninstall Windows Defender - if so, how do I
disable it?

You say that it is good to have multiple security - but I have read that it
is best just to have one - as I said I have total security with Kaspersky -
do you think it best that I leave Windows Defender in alongside Kaspersky?

And have you any idea what this "bonjour" thing is in the box above the
Windows Defender icon?

Hope you don,t mind answering my questions
regards
Toni

 

[toni]

Thankyou so much for taking the time to explain it all in such detail. I
don,t know if you work or are paid by Microsoft but that really doesn,t
matter considering you covered all the points I asked so clearly.

There was a bit where you were talking about "Anti-Spyware" and spelling it
all out as such; but in the continuing sentence you just wrote "A-S" - then
straight after you went back to spelling it all out ("Anti-Spyware") again.
Did you go back to spelling it all out incase I didn,t understand what "A-S"
stood for (which I did have to think of for just a split second!). If it was
intended it was a very kind gesture considering my computer awareness is very
limited. Eitherway I thought it was amusing and/or kind... Which one was
it? Intentioned or not?

Thankyou again for your patience
kind regards
Toni (with an "Eye" not a "Why"!!!)

 

[Susan]

I do not understand this part of the computer at all.
My husband did a criticial update for windows, this is when microsoft added
this defender to our computer. We have Trend PC-cillin on it and it now does
not work at all. This is the product we have and my husband likes it. So
When he he tryed to reinstall this program it will not work. We have Vista
on this computer. So my husband know has dumped this problem on me because
this is my laptop. This is why I do not do the updates. If this computer is
working why mess with it.
So please in the simplest terms and directions please help me get this fixed
or be able to explain to my husband what needs to be done?
Also if my husband does this update on our desktop computer which has xp
they are again going to give this defender to us? So how do I stop the icon
from coming up to tell me to do updates?

Susan

 

[Susan]

Hi Dave M

Thanks for the help, but with one answer comes more questions!

Ok I found Defender and shut it off. But when I cleck on Trend it tells me
there is defender. So I say I want to turn on Trend and it ask if I know and
trust them, I say yes and it will not turn it on.
The windows Security Center boxs comes up with Firewall ON, Automatic
Updating on and then Malware Protection OFF. I click on this and get:
The first box says Virus protection:
PC-cillin Internet Security - Virus Portection reports that is is turned off.
there is a box that I can click and it says turn on now
below in blue is Show me my available options.
If I click Turn on now
I get a box that ask if I trust this product, when i click this the box goes
away, but it does not turn on the protection.
If I click the blue righting I get Go online to get a different antivirus
or I have an anitivirus program that I'll monitor myself or
Don't monitor my antivirus software state.
The 2nd boxs says
Spyware and other malware protection
Windows Defender and PC-cillin Internet Security - Spyware Portection both
report that they are turned off.
Then they have a Turn on now box.
If I click on that box, I get these options.
Turn on Windows Defender
Turn on PC-cillin Internet Securtiy -Spyware Protection
(Choosing this option will run a signed program registered to PC-cillin
Internet Securtiy - spyware Portecion that Security Center can't monitor.
Go online to get a different antispyware program
I Have an antispyware program that I'll monitor myself.
I clicked on # 2 Turn on PC-cillin
Then I get: Yes, I trust this program and am ready to run it or
No, I would like to verify its identity before running this program.
I click on # 1 Yes
And still nothing happens.

Please help if you can, What I'm I doing wrong? I hope this makes some sense.

Susan

 

[Jacks Friend]

I have the oposite problem. I uninstalled Defender due to it not functioning
and now I cannot reinstall it. I went to the Microsoft site and it will not
install, it reads it is already installed. I have tried using my CD but that
will not work either. Lastly i attempted to update it to no avail. Any
suggestions?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Are you running Windows XP?

If so, download the Windows Installer Cleanup tool from Microsoft's download
center.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

(there is a link in the KB article for the tool itself)

Once downloaded, run to install the tool.

It will appear in the Start menu. Run it, and remove Windows Defender--and
perhaps there's an additional entry for the definitions.

Then you should be able to run the new download of Windows Defender and it
will install fine.

If this is a shared PC, I would recommend uninstalling the cleanup
utility--it can be a risky tool to have available.

 

[Non Defender]

Yes... Why are we asking non MS people for the solution ?

We have about 64 machines here at work with Defender "disabled" due to
another AV solution being installed. Now our patching system is giving False
"64 computers needs a defender patch" Because it still thinks it is there and
we cannot remove it.
Try explaining that one to managers.

We need to be able to remove Defender... as a component. I can remove FTP,
but I cannot remove Defender ?

AurrGGG I suppose I am just venting. This is worse than SPYWare itself. A
program I do not want, and I cannot uninstall it.


Give us a solution MS./... PLEASE

 

[jeannefl]

I just want to ask you a couple of questions as I,m not really up on internet
security, if you don,t mind?

I have Kaspersky Internet Security (the full package one - think its a 7.0)
and at the same time out of nowhere a few months ago, the Windows Defender
(and icon) made its appearance. Every time I go into my computer it says
something about its location in a little box above the icon and then
dissappears - but one thing I do notice in this box is the french word
"bonjour". This box comes up far too often and is annoying - I want to
uninstall Windows Defender but cannot find it under the install/uninstall
programs in the control panel.

Is it true that I cannot uninstall Windows Defender - if so, how do I
disable it?

You say that it is good to have multiple security - but I have read that it
is best just to have one - as I said I have total security with Kaspersky -
do you think it best that I leave Windows Defender in alongside Kaspersky?

And have you any idea what this "bonjour" thing is in the box above the
Windows Defender icon?

Hope you don,t mind answering my questions
regards
Toni

 

[jeannefl]

..Dear Dave,

I am looking for a solution to a problem I have with windows Defender..
After reading how helpful you have been. When ever I open Vists it comes up
"Application failed to initialize ox800106ba". A problem caused this
program's service to stop. It said to turn off the computer and start again.
This doesn't work. Perhaps you can help me. How do I correct this problem?

Please HELP.

Thanks so very much

jeannefl

 

[Michael]

Generally, it is not possible to remove Windows Defender from the Vista
Operating System although you can disable it. Is there a specific reason
you feel you should not have multiple layers of Anti-Spyware security
contrary to the recommendations by security professionals?

-- i don't care about fixing this on xp. i am using vista and i am sick of the error

windows
defender error 0x800106ba" How do i fix it on vist 64 bit