Help - Can't Turn Windows Defender On!

Discussion in 'Software' started by whitequeen96, Aug 13, 2016.

  1. whitequeen96

    whitequeen96 Private First Class

    I keep getting notifications that it's not on. When I go to Settings, it looks like what's below, and I can't get it to change. To be honest, I'm not even sure if this shows it's on (yeah, I'm uncertain about the toggle switch), but since I keep getting the warnings that it's off, I guess I've got problems.
    upload_2016-8-13_14-47-6.png
     
  2. Eldon

    Eldon Major Geek Extraordinaire

    Could you tell us more about the notifications/warnings you are getting?
     
  3. whitequeen96

    whitequeen96 Private First Class

    They're from the "Action Center," which has an icon that looks kind of like a cartoon balloon (but square) at the bottom left side of my screen. Unfortunately, the notifications (1 per day) aren't there now because I clicked on them, so they disappeared. I don't have the exact wording because it now says "No New Notifications" but I'm sure I'll have another by tomorrow. This Action Center came when I installed Windows 10 and it has all sorts of things on the bottom in boxes, ie. Tablet Mode, All Settings, Connect, Notes, etc.
     
  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Do you have some other anti-virus software installed?
     
  5. whitequeen96

    whitequeen96 Private First Class

    I have Advanced SystemCare 9, Malwarebytes AntiMalware, and Iobit Malware Fighter (and SmartDefrag and the Uninstaller), but someone on here recently told me Advanced SystemCare is not anti-virus, so I don't know about the others. I was just offered ByteFence, and was going to ask about it here when I noticed notifications that my Windows Defender isn't on.
     
  6. Eldon

    Eldon Major Geek Extraordinaire

    Check whether you have Advanced SystemCare Free, PRO or Ultimate?
    BTW You don't need ByteFence.
     
  7. whitequeen96

    whitequeen96 Private First Class

    It's 9.4 PRO.
    And thanks for the info about ByteFence.
     
  8. Eldon

    Eldon Major Geek Extraordinaire

    Can you run Windows Defender?
     
  9. theefool

    theefool Geekified

    If you bring up powershell (Within "ask me anything" type: powershell, click powershell), type in:

    get-service "wdNisSvc" | fl Name,Status

    Does status show running?
     
  10. whitequeen96

    whitequeen96 Private First Class

    No, I can't seem to turn it on, or that's what the notifications I mentioned in the beginning keep telling me. When I go to Security and Maintenance, it says Windows Defender and Iobit Malware Fighter are both off. But when I try to turn Win Defenders on, it goes to the page(?) that is shown in my first post on this problem. Should I just get rid of Iobit? And now I see where Advanced System Care is part of Iobit too? I'm so confused! :eek:
     
  11. Eldon

    Eldon Major Geek Extraordinaire

    I would uninstall Advanced SystemCare PRO. It does include "Basic Protection from Security Threats", whatever that means.
    Also, check which versions of IObit Malware Fighter (Free or PRO) you have, as well as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Free or Premium).
     
  12. whitequeen96

    whitequeen96 Private First Class

    Yay! I uninstalled Advanced SystemsCare PRO and all the Iobit stuff. When I did that, Windows Defender turned on automatically! So happy! :D A million thanks!
    I got the Free Malwarebytes. With that and Windows Defender, am I safe or should I add anything else? What about anti-spyware?
     
  13. mdonah

    mdonah Major Geek Extraordinaire

    I run Spyware Blaster, CryptoPrevent and BitDefender's AntiRansomware.
     
  14. sexyandy81

    sexyandy81 MajorGeek

    you need to turn malware fighter off and then restart the computer and you should beable to turn on windows defender
     
  15. whitequeen96

    whitequeen96 Private First Class

    Thank you, everyone! I don't know what I would do without you! I've downloaded the recommended things and made a donation to this site. Really, you've helped me so much that I wish I could donate $100; you're certainly worth at least that much!
     

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