How do I get rid of Windows defender completely?


  1. Posts : 50
    windows 7 home premium 64 bit
       #1

    How do I get rid of Windows defender completely?


    Whenever any of my Antivirus software runs, MsMpEng.exe starts spazzing out, I'm pretty sure MsMpEng.exe is windows defender and yet when I try to open windows defender, it says it is not running.
    My computer just grinds to a halt due to this, in the performance monitor, MsMpEng.exe was causing over <1000 Hard Faults

    Any help would be appreciated
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,996
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #2

    You can totally disable Windows Defender.

    Windows Defender - Turn On or Off
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #3

    uilymmot said:
    Whenever any of my Antivirus software runs
    What real-time Antivirus programs are you using now, or have ever used?
    Your specs show MSE (MS Security Essentials).
    Are you running any other real-time anti-virus or anti-malware programs?

    When MSE is installed, it should disable Windows Defender automatically...
    If you had other AV programs before MSE, did you use the uninstaller utility for that program(s) to get a complete removal?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 50
    windows 7 home premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    After a installed MSE, windows defender was turned off, however in task manager, MsMpEng.exe which is a process of windows defender continues to run, MsMpEng.exe was causing lots of hard faults whenever MSE and Malwarebytes scans ran.

    I followed the instructions that sardinicus's thread directed me to and MsMpEng.exe does not show up in the task monitor, however, in resource moniter, whenver a scan runs, MsMpEng.exe shows up again but only causing around 4 or 5 hard faults. But I guess thats good enough to not slow things down
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #5

    I just got on a Win7 64 Bit system that has MSE.
    MsMpEng.exe is an MSE process on this system

    Here's something I found that may explain the confusion about this process

    MsMpEng.exe is the back-end of MSE(Microsoft Security Essentials). It is important to remember that this process is actually used by both Windows Defender and MSE. When you install MSE, then Windows Defender is automatically turned off and MSE uses this process.
    If you uninstall MSE, then Windows Defender will be enabled and will start using this process. So in a way both Windows Defender and MSE use this single process.
    Source: What Is Msseces.exe & MsMpEng.exe Process? And Why They Are Running?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 8,608
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit SP1
       #6

    You can disable Windows Defender in 'services'. Type services.msc in the start search box. When the gear icon shows up, click on it. Scroll down to Windows Defender. Right click, choose properties, and in the dropdown box, set it to disabled. Stop the service, click apply and ok.
      My Computer


 

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