Vista and Defender updates

[Guest]

I just upgraded to Vista Home Premium. Today I noted there was an update to
Windows Defender. My version of Defender is 1.1.1505.0
I have downloaded the update from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...e7-da2b-4a6a-afa4-f7f14e605a0d&DisplayLang=en

When I run the installer it tells me 'You don't need to install as its part
of Vista'.

Opening Defender and using 'check of updates' results in 'No updates
available'

Catch 22 here....

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

There's a post from a Defender staff person recently discussing this. The
version of Defender in Vista is equivalent to the newest available for
XP--there's no need to update it.

The version numbers are different, which is confusing.

You have the latest Defender code for Vista, and it does what the XP code
does, and more, because of additional capabilities in the underlying OS.

 

[Guest]

I have also just upgraded to Vista Home Premium and tried to update Defender
but followed the instructions to uninstall it. Now when I try to reinstall I
get a message saying there is no need to install as it is part of Vista!!!
How do I overcome this. Can I just reinstall Defender from the installation
CD/DVD?

 

[Guest]

followed what instructions to uninstall it?

This is a piece of working with Vista that I don't know how to do at this
point. Windows Defender is not listed as part of the feature set that can be
added or removed in control panel. A repair install of Vista should take
care of this, but that's significant effort. What did you do to uninstall
it, and what was the result?

 

[dean-dean]

After originally reading Malc's post, my first thought was how would you be
able to uninstall Windows Defender in Vista, which I am also operating in a
dual-boot scenario, since W.D. isn't an option in Vista's "Uninstall or
Change a Program". But the key phrase might be "upgraded to Vista ",
versus a clean install (clean install being what I did). The upgrade path
may have put Defender in the list of programs that one could uninstall,
inherited from XP. For example, the User Profile Cleanup Service should be
uninstalled on XP before upgrading to Vista, since it, too, is a built-in
feature of Vista, and this is documented. The User Profile Cleanup Service
should not be on the list of programs that you can uninstall, either, hence
the reason for removing it on XP, I suspect. I don't know offhand about
Windows Defender, though; I haven't read anything regarding its removal
before upgrading. These are things that Vista Setup should address
automatically during an Upgrade, IMHO, but that's another issue. At any
rate, the files for Windows Defender's Program Files folder are duplicated
in subfolders of C:\Windows\winsxs. Perhaps putting sfc /scannow in
Command Prompt (Start Menu\Programs\Accessories, which should be "Run as
Administrator", by right-clicking on Command Prompt) would repair Windows
Defender. The System File Checker checks all the current system files and
can restore the cached approved copies. I'm not sure this will restore
Defender, and its data in the registry, but it might be worth a try. For
more information regarding the System File Checker with Vista, see:

http://vistasupport.mvps.org/system_file_checker.htm

I fear, though, that to get Defender back, the OS may need to be
reinstalled...

 

[dean-dean]

I should have stated , in my previous post , that System Restore could be an
option, too, if there's a Point available before the removal of Defender.
Unfortunately, Malc, to answer your question about restoring Defender from
the DVD, restoring individual programs isn't an option. Your choices on the
DVD are the ability to invoke System Restore from the DVD, to repair the
boot sector, or restore a Backup you've created.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

sfc /scannow is a great idea--I've never tried that in Vista--will have to
sometime.

I do think that I have seen one other post which seemed similar to the
scenario that you mention here--so there may really be something like that
possible--I'd think that the fix would be simpler than a full reinstall
though.

--

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

That one I know I've checked before--Windows Defender is not among the bits
of Vista that can be enabled or disabled via control panel. I'm quite
certain that it can be disabled, because I believe it can be fully replaced
by alternative anti-spyware apps that connect via the anti-virus UI--but I
don't know how to do it--probably group policy.

--

 

[Guest]

I read somewhere on the Defender web site to uninstall if it was version
"something" and did so using Your Installer. My Vista Home Premium is the
upgrade on Windows XP Home.

 

[dean-dean]

Well, as you've probably already figured out by now, the download from
Microsoft is for for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 only.
On Windows Vista, Defender is part of the OS, much like IE7, etc. I would
have hoped the installer that you downloaded would have caught the fact that
you had Vista, and refused to install. Bummer.

It might be worthwhile to do this:

While holding down the Windows key on your keyboard, push the "R" key. In
the Run box type

sfc /scannow

Click on OK. The System File Checker checks all the current system files
and can restore the cached approved copies. For more information regarding
the System File Checker with Vista, see:

http://vistasupport.mvps.org/system_file_checker.htm

 

[dean-dean]

Hmmm. I may be in error here. I've just re-read your original post, and
I'm not clear now as to whether you still have Windows Defender on your
computer or not. Does it still work when you click on it's shortcut (Start
Menu\Programs), or is it missing (are there files in C:\Program
Files\Windows Defender, such as MSASCui.exe)? Doing the "sfc /scannow"
command won't hurt anything, though; but I may be misunderstanding your
problem.

 

[cd]

There's a post from a Defender staff person recently discussing this. The
version of Defender in Vista is equivalent to the newest available for
XP--there's no need to update it.

The version numbers are different, which is confusing.

You have the latest Defender code for Vista, and it does what the XP code
does, and more, because of additional capabilities in the underlying OS.


--




Hi, Bill, Everyone....

My Vista Defender hasn't worked in over a year. What a waste. Won't turn
on and stay on, won't complete a scan..(error msgs), can't update. Am I
being punished for purchasing OneCare Live? I refuse to uninstall OneCare in
order to get Defender to work right or update. I prefer Defender.
Does it have to remain useless or can something be done?
Thanks...

cd

 

[Bill Sanderson]

You'll need to speak to the OneCare team about this. I don't think I would
describe it in your terms but:

OneCare includes the protective functionality of Windows Defender, and
disables Windows Defender when installed.

You can't run both at the same time, I'm afraid.

 

[cd]

Well, now I know what's been going on.

Thank you, Bill. You are appreciated. I've been frustrated!

cd

 

[Bill Sanderson]

You're welcome! The lack of transparency around this issue has been one of
the most frequently posted issues (here, anyway!)

I wish they could figure out a better way to handle this. Symantec is quite
explicit with their newer products, anyway--they disable Windows Defender as
their product installs (I believe you have a choice--but this is their
recommendation, and I would follow it--if you are going to choose Symantec
as your anti-malware professional--follow their advice.)

OneCare, on the other hand, just goes out and does it and says nothing about
it--at least in the versions I've seen--and I have to admit it has been a
good while since I looked at the product. I'll be looking at it again quite
soon, however, since it looks like we are likely to standardize on it for
some small offices I work with who will be using Small Business Server 2008.

Glad I could set your mind at rest--OneCare does a good job at its primary
function of keeping malware out.