Windows 10: RE: "virus scan fail" Windows Defender Windows 8.1 on laptop. unable to download.

Since May, 2020. I have not been able to download anything onto my laptop. All I get is "virus scan failed" message. All updates are current. Windows Defender System virus scans show no threats. Please help. Thank you.



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Good alternative to Windows Defender on 8.1

I had to do a format and reinstall on my main rig, and thought I may as well upgrade to 8.1. My only real gripe is my Downloads folder lagging like hell, which I've read is due to Windows Defender. Now I really like MSE/Windows Defender because it's unobtrusive and lets me do what I want to do without pissing me off. Several attempts to try another antivirus program have always resulted in me going back to MSE (either due to viral infection or general annoyance). The lagging, while not an issue per se, is annoying the hell out of me. So I'd like suggestions for a good, free alternative that will be unobtrusive, not try to block everything I want to do (I'm smart enough to know what I'm doing), and not make my PC lag even when running a schedules scan.

Thanks.

 

Unable to Re-Start Windows Defender Services

A little background first, I downloaded a file and started to install it when Defender caught the virus, but didn't contain it. So I downloaded Malwarebytes to scan and remove the virus.

After I loaded Malwarebytes I noticed I wasn't getting anymore Windows Defender definitions but I noticed the Windows Defender services were stopped and I figured Malwarebytes stopped it and that was the reason I wasn't getting anymore updates on Defender.

I uninstalled Malwarebytes but now I can't restart Windows Defender.

If I got to Control Panel then Security and Maintenance window. Both buttons to turn on Defender are grayed out.





If I search for Windows Defender in the search window on the task bar. This is the result I get.





And lastly, if I go into Task Manager Services, there are 2 entries for Windows Defender, both are stopped. If I try to restart them this is the message I get.





So is there anything I can do to restart the app or does it require more drastic steps such as reload 9926?

 

How to scan anti-virus with windows Defender?

For windows 10, I would like to know on how to scan anti-virus with windows Defender, when I select a file and right click, there is no anti-virus for scanning for windows defender and how to make windows defender update automatically?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions