Windows Defender opening up problem

Darksky40 · 12 Sep 2016

I have Windows Defender which was working it scans for viruses, etc and it has started to fail to open up. When I click on the flag at the bottom of the screen it says 1 message says Windows defender needs to scan your computer with a message saying Windows defender This program is turned off if you are using another program that checks for harmful or unwanted software use the Action Centre to check that program's status. If you would like to use this program, click here to turn it on (example picture) and when I click on to that I get another message saying this program is blocked by group policy. For more information, contract your system administration. (Error code 0x800704ec) (example picture) Can anyone identify what has gone wrong and how do I get windows defender up and running again properly? Is it because of my other protection avast?

ThrashZone · 12 Sep 2016

Hi,
Unless your system spec's are out of date it shows you use Norton and which Windows defender would be rightfully disabled.

MoxieMomma · 12 Sep 2016

Hi:

Yes, @ThrashZone is correct: most of the major 3rd-party AVs automatically disable WD, to prevent conflicts, clashes and slow-downs. So that is normal.

However, your screen shot shows a "Group Policy" dialog window. That further suggests that your system administrator has changed those settings.

Is this a work/school/business computer by any chance? If so, I would be mindful of trying to override or bypass those settings. The system admin likely controls what software can be installed and by whom.

Or did you edit the Group Policy settings?

MM

Darksky40 · 13 Sep 2016

Hi, Thank you for the reply and I am with Avast Internet Security and not with Norton will that have the same effect or do the same thing?
Also I have not done anything to the group policy settings and I use my Netbook for Personal/Home use only.

MoxieMomma · 13 Sep 2016

Hi:

All of the major, 3rd-party AVs will disable WD by default when they are installed, at least on Win 8/8.1/10, as we previously mentioned.
That, by itself, is not abnormal.
That's because WD under those OS versions is a full-fledged AV.
And each system should have only one active AV.

Having said that, WD under Win7 is not a full AV -- it's a weak anti-malware application.
So I'm not 100% sure all of the AVs will therefore automatically disable it on that platform.
(IIRC I had to manually disable at least some of the WD settings from the Windows Control Panel when I installed KIS on my Win7 boxes. The realtime protection had been disabled, but it still tried to phone home for updates.)

I am also concerned by the "Group Policy" dialog shown in your screen shot.
If this is a personal computer and you did not make the changes yourself, it suggests that you *might be* infected.
Certain types of malware can cause these sort of "Group Policy" changes.

You might want to run some anti-malware scans and/or get a bit of expert help checking the system to be sure it's clean.

MM

Layback Bear · 13 Sep 2016

Which Windows 7 do you have installed?