Cannot start windows defender

Hi all,
I'm having a problem with windows defender. I noticed it was not working, although it has been in the past, so I tried to enable it but get this message:
"This program is blocked by group policy. For more information contact your system administrator. (Error code: 0x800704ec)"
Any help appreciated.

Thanks for the replies,

I checked out the link containing the following;

I had this problem yesterday, It was cause by msa.exe (a malware disguised as an antivirus). You will need to start the Group Policy Editor. Click on administrative Templates and then Windows Components In Windows Components click on Windows Defender disable "Turn off Windows Defender". It worked for me, I hope it does for you.P.S: to start the Group Policy Editor, click on start and in the Search Box type group and then click on "Edit Group Policy"

I don't get any sense when I try to get into the group policy editor, type in group and just get taskbar options. I have checked in services via control panel and windows defender is not disabled.

I'm lost

Hi Cap'n Jack,

Tried to delete via the registry but won't allow me too. Box comes up "unable do delete all specified values"

Capt.Jack Sparrow said:

Hello !!

Did you try the Reigstry Method ??

- Captain

I have figured out to how to get windows defender to work with the error code in affect! Go to start menu, search, run, regedit.exe, hkey_local_machine\software\policies\microsoft\windows defender. Look to your right in the same window and you will see DisableAntiSpy... right click on that then left click modify make the value data zero. min the window go to control panel click windows defender it will ask to turn back on, then click it to. it will say the same error code then close the error code window and there is your windows defender!!!! You will have to leave the value data at zero though!! If that works close the regedit.exe window. Hope you didnt delete anything yet when you make the value zero thats just what it registers as!!

Warning: Do not edit the registry if you are unfamiliar with it and without creating a backup first. See Registry - Backup and Restore - Windows 7 Forums

turn off group policy then try

Krispy1 said:

turn off group policy then try

Exactly, Or make a batch file to toggle the policy setting in the registry