Windows 10: Cannot open Security Dashboard for Windows Defender

Just did a clean install of Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool. During installation, I set up Windows to put the Users file on my D:\ drive (https://www.windowsphoneinfo.com/threads/move-users-folder-location-in-windows-10.260/). Everything went smoothly until I did the first update after setting up Windows. When updates were downloaded and installed, I restarted the computer and then tried to open the Security Dashboard to change some settings. The only thing that happens is the cursor starts flashing with an hour glass next to it. This continues until I shutdown the computer and restart.

Checking Event Viewer I found the following:

1) Windows Defender Antivirus Configuration has changed. If this is an unexpected event you should review the settings as this may be the result of malware.
Old value: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection\DpaDisabled = 0x1
New value: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection\DpaDisabled = 0x0

2) Windows Defender Antivirus Configuration has changed. If this is an unexpected event you should review the settings as this may be the result of malware.
Old value: Default\ManagedDefenderProductType = 0x0
New value: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\ManagedDefenderProductType = 0x0

3) Windows Defender Antivirus Configuration has changed. If this is an unexpected event you should review the settings as this may be the result of malware.
Old value: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\InstallLocation = C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\
New value: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\InstallLocation = C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\platform\4.18.1809.2-0\

4) Windows Defender Antivirus Configuration has changed. If this is an unexpected event you should review the settings as this may be the result of malware.
Old value: Default\ManagedDefenderProductType = 0x0
New value: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\ManagedDefenderProductType = 0x0

:)

 

Windows Defender Security Center Won't Stay Open

Thanks @Hydrate! Followed Step 3 of Option 2 and rebooted ... problem solved!

I'll keep an eye on it for the next couple of days and if all stays good, I will mark this thread closed.

 

windows defender & security center services keep turning off


Are you running any other AV or did you have one running in the past? If you didn't use an uninstaller for the AV, then the remnants of it could be causing the problem. Normally any time you install an AV it disables Defender by default.

If you are getting any error codes please list those, that will be helpful in helping you.

As torre suggested, might be a good idea to do a reset or even a reinstall.

Reset Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums

There are also some suggestions listed here:

Unable to turn on Windows Defender in Windows 7 / 8 / 10

 

Windows Defender Security Center Won't Stay Open


When I open Windows Defender Security Center, it opens and then closes itself.

I’m running Windows 10 Home, v1703, with the latest updates.

I run Norton Security as my primary AV & firewall with the latest updates.

I did a system reset in the last couple of months.

I have the latest Defender updates according to: https://www.microsoft.com/security/p...tions/adl.aspx

Defender seems to be functioning, but generating the following errors:

• Event ID 3: The Windows Security Center Service was unable to establish event queries with WMI to monitor third party AntiVirus, AntiSpyware and Firewall.
• Event ID 16: Error while updating Windows Defender status to SECURITY_PRODUCT_STATE_ON.
• Event ID 1000:

Faulting application name: SecHealthUI.exe, version: 10.0.15063.0, time stamp: 0x58ccbce5
Faulting module name: SecHealthUIDataModel.dll, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x58ccbc8d
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x000000000015b847
Faulting process id: 0x27f0
Faulting application start time: 0x01d2f12745cc2b1f
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.SecHealthUI_cw5n1h2txyewy\SecHealthUI.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.SecHealthUI_cw5n1h2txyewy\SecHealthUIDataModel.dll
Report Id: bcac3ab1-757d-47fb-8d4f-c089173b11e0
Faulting package full name: Microsoft.Windows.SecHealthUI_10.0.15063.0_neutral__cw5n1h2txyewy
Faulting package-relative application ID: SecHealthUI

I have tried options 3 and 5 in this tutorial: Turn On or Off Windows Defender Real-time Protection in Windows 10. Options 1 and 2 aren’t available to me since the settings window won’t stay open. Option 4 isn’t available for Windows Home.

As I said above, AFAICT, Defender seems to be working, but the Defender Security window won’t stay open and it’s generating a lot of errors.

Any suggestions for troubleshooting and/or fixing this issue?