Windows Defender Application failed to initialize: 0x80070006. The handle is invalid.

Discussion in 'Software' started by korniceman3000, Jun 3, 2011.

  1. korniceman3000

    korniceman3000 Private E-2

    Hi everyone,

    My laptop was recently infected with a virus that hijacked my browser and started this wau.exe file that displays this fake Windows Defender scan that keeps popping up when I access the internet. I was able to remove the infection using Malwarebytes but afterwards, every time I start up the computer, I get this message:

    Windows Defender
    Application failed to initialize: 0x80070006. The handle is invalid.

    I can't start it manually and I don't know if this is because the virus turned it off or removed something from defender.

    I use Windows Vista Home Edition

    Please advise me on how I might be able to correct this problem.

    Thank you so much for your help. It is greatly appreciated!!!
     
  2. iain.t

    iain.t MajorGeek

    Re: Windows Defender Application failed to initialize: 0x80070006. The handle is inva

    Hi and welcome to MG's,

    You need to follow the instructions as per this Thread....

    http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

    once you have gone through the cleaning process for you OS and have created the logs requested make a new Thread in that part of the forum.

    This explains how to attach those logs......

    http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=86880

    once the Malware Guru's have given you a clean bill of health and you still have issues post back here in this Thread and we will try to help as best we can.

    iain.t :major
     
  3. DaiseyMoonshine

    DaiseyMoonshine Private E-2

    Re: Windows Defender Application failed to initialize: 0x80070006. The handle is inva

    I uninstalled Windows Defender after having aquired a virus that mimicked Windows Defender which took over my computer. I had to go into safe mode to run a malware scan and quarrantine the SOB. Then proceded to uninstal the actual Windows Defender.

    Since then, I had the same error message upon each and every start up, and I searched online for a resolution.

    Microsoft asks you to reinstall Windows Defender (of course) but all you really need to do is this to make that error message go away is this:

    Click Start Menu button
    Type 'msconfig' in the search area
    Click Enter

    A system configuration window will pop up. The first tab is General. There is a section called Selective Startup. Uncheck all and click on apply.

    Reboot your computer and enjoy your PC once again :) You will have to open your programs manually from then on, but it's better not to have unecessary programs running upon start up, anyway. IMHO...
     
  4. solaris89

    solaris89 First Sergeant

    Re: Windows Defender Application failed to initialize: 0x80070006. The handle is inva

    Oh boy rolleyes
     

MajorGeeks.Com Menu

Downloads All In One Tweaks \ Android \ Anti-Malware \ Anti-Virus \ Appearance \ Backup \ Browsers \ CD\DVD\Blu-Ray \ Covert Ops \ Drive Utilities \ Drivers \ Graphics \ Internet Tools \ Multimedia \ Networking \ Office Tools \ PC Games \ System Tools \ Mac/Apple/Ipad Downloads

Other News: Top Downloads \ News (Tech) \ Off Base (Other Websites News) \ Way Off Base (Offbeat Stories and Pics)

Social: Facebook \ YouTube \ Twitter \ Tumblr \ Pintrest \ RSS Feeds