Windows Defender Service Stopped

[Jo6Pak]

I was wondering why I had not been receiving definition updates, so I cheked the Defender User Interface and found the message: There was a problem with this service and it has been stopped. I was easily able to restart it, but after a reboot it was off again. I checked the setting in Windows Servives and found it was set to Automatic (Delayed Start). I chnaged it to simply Automatic and now it remains on. Is there any reason I should NOT have changed that setting?

I'm new to Windows 7 and the Seven Forums. Thanks in advance...

 

[Grimmjow]

Read this, its about services configuration,
Windows 7 Service Configurations by Black Viper

 

[Jo6Pak]

Thanks, but it didn't really answer my question. Anyone else?

 

[Brink]

Hello Jo, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Do you have Microsoft Security Essentials installed? If so, it disables Windows Defender and turns off it's service since it replaces it.

 

[Jo6Pak]

No. I only have Defender running real-time. I also have MalwareBytes installed for manual sweeps. The service-stopping issue happens on its own, regardless of whether or not I run MWB.

As I mentioned, I changed the start-up option for Defender from Automatic (Delayed) to just Automatic. There could be a reason Windows wants delayed start-up of this service. I would like to know if its OK to leave it set to Automatic.

Excuse my ignorance. I've used XP for soooo long and I'm still ramping up to the nuances of 7.

 

[Kage159]

Check the event viewer to see if there are any clues to why the service may be stopping. Type event viewer in to the search box on the windows menu to quickly find it. There may be entries under Application or under System that relate to the problem. If you have a idea when the service stops that will also help you narrow down the date/time when looking.

Kage_

 

[Jo6Pak]

I'll check the Event Viewer when I get home this evening (at work now). Can't imagine why Defender's default start-up would be set to Delayed. Thanks...

 

[Brink]

I would like to know if its OK to leave it set to Automatic.

Excuse my ignorance. I've used XP for soooo long and I'm still ramping up to the nuances of 7.

Yes, it will be safe to leave it set as Automatic. The "Automatic (delay)" does the same thing, but waits a bit after startup for it to start instead to give other applications a quicker startup. Something may be interferning to prevent Windows Defender starting up during the delay time, and that may be why it will start when you have it start automatically without a delay.

Looking in Event Viewer as Kage posted may help determine what it may have been.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
as Brink says MSE replaces Windows Defender -- and its updated frequently too.

I'd install MSE -- small, effective and doesn't interefer with your machine in any way.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Jo6Pak]

Hi there
as Brink says MSE replaces Windows Defender -- and its updated frequently too.

I'd install MSE -- small, effective and doesn't interefer with your machine in any way.

Cheers
jimbo

I probably will, eventually. I just thought I'd dance with Defender awhile first, since its already on there. Is MSE really that much better?

 

[Zomby88]

Hi there
as Brink says MSE replaces Windows Defender -- and its updated frequently too.

I'd install MSE -- small, effective and doesn't interefer with your machine in any way.

Cheers
jimbo

I probably will, eventually. I just thought I'd dance with Defender awhile first, since its already on there. Is MSE really that much better?

Actually , MSE replaces Live OneCare , which I liked. Defender is just turned off.
A free program from Microsoft ???? Holy Cow:shock::shock::shock::shock::shock::shock:

 

[Brink]

Hi there
as Brink says MSE replaces Windows Defender -- and its updated frequently too.

I'd install MSE -- small, effective and doesn't interefer with your machine in any way.

Cheers
jimbo

I probably will, eventually. I just thought I'd dance with Defender awhile first, since its already on there. Is MSE really that much better?

Yes, it's much better than Windows Defender, and provides better security protection. You might consider giving it a try for a bit to see what you think since it's free and can be easily uninstalled if you do not like it.

 

[Skylark]

Windows Defender "Service Has Stopped"

Just in case it is a help to anyone who is getting the "Service Has Stopped" message after booting up their computers, with regard to Windows Defender.

In addition to going to "Services", locating "Windows Defender", and selecting "Automatic", move along to the Recovery tab and put "Restart the Service" into all THREE of the boxes there, i.e. First Failure, Second Failure, and SUBSEQUENT FAILURES.

Do this will make Windows Defender keep trying to start itself and so it will try again to start AFTER all your other boot-up processes have finished. (One of those processes is what has stopped Windows Defender from booting up.)

Next time you boot up, you may get the "Service Has Stopped" pop-up screen, but just wait and once all your other services have finished loading, Defender will suddenly indicate that it too has booted successfully.

The only thing then is that you are left with the pop-up screen. If anyone knows of a way to make it close itself, or, better still, not to even show while it is doing all of the above, please advise!

Currently I am protected by Avast, the Windows Firewall, and Windows Defender, with occasional manual SpyBot checks. I understand that Defender doesn't use a lot of "juice" while running in the background, so I am happy for it run in tandem with Avast Free Edition.