Windows 10: Confusion about turning on Windows Defender to do a scan

I'm presently using (running) Avast Pro and Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit-Free, with weekly running of CCleaner, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and AdwCleaner. I do a lot of browsing and haven't had any problems with this approach. However, I got the hankering to also keep Windows Defender up-to-date and to occasionally run its scan just to see see if anything comes up. So, I go to WD with the expectation that it is turned off and find that it may not be. I would go to update&security>windows defender and find, to my surprise, that real-time protection and cloud based protection are turned on, but grayed out. Furthermore, when scrolling to the bottom of the screen and clicking Open Windows Defender, I get the message that "WD is turned off and not monitoring the computer." I then went to Brink's WD tutorial (Windows Defender - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums), but I am confused as to how to proceed as I don't know which option to use, or even if this is the right approach???

:)

 

How do I stop Windows Defender running unwanted scan?

The process "Antimalware Service Executable" is a part of Windows Defender. Windows Defender is set up to protect you, but if your computer is running too slowly causing it to be annoying, you can go into your Settings and click on Security. Then, choose
when to let Defender do a scan, or if it even does a scan at all. (You can turn off automatic scans.) You could also turn off Windows Defender altogether. If you turn off Defender, it will tell you that your computer is not protected, but you shouldn't have
to worry about the high amount of CPU usage. Just turn it back on when you aren't using your computer to let it do a scan, and/or manually start a scan.

 

Windows Defender - Windows 10

You do not need to run a scan on startup. Real-Time Protection (RTM) continuously monitors your computer and scans everything you download or run on your PC.

Actually, you do not even have to think about Windows Defender at all. It will only pop up to inform you when it finds malware or when some action is required from you.

In addition, you do not need to worry about updating Windows Defender. Updates will be automatically arrived and installed without requiring system reboot.

However, you can use Windows Defender anytime to scan for malware if your computer is not working properly or if you clicked a suspicious link online or in an email message.

If you still insist to start a scan when you turn on your computer, follow the following simple steps to setup a Windows Scheduled for this purpose.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/schedule-a-scan-in-windows-defender

The following article link describes the same process (How to Schedule Scans in Windows Defender) in more details and with screen shots in Windows 8 and it is similar in Windows 10.

How to schedule a Scan in Windows Defender in Windows 10

 

...........but I am confused as to how to proceed as I don't know which option to use, or even if this is the right approach??? .............

If you have Windows 10 Pro, use Option One.
For Windows 10 Home, use Option Two.

 

OK, as I have Windows 10 Home, it will be Option 2 for me. But before I proceed, some more clarification questions. Using this procedure will turn on WD and allow me to run a update and scan and then allow me to turn WD off -- Yes/No? And, when I do run WD, should I turn off my other anti-virus apps? Thanks for your help.

 

RE :Using this procedure will turn on WD and allow me to run a update and scan and then allow me to turn WD off -- Yes/No?

Yes. Use the tutorial to turn WD On or Off.

RE : And, when I do run WD, should I turn off my other anti-virus apps?
No. Just run the WD scan and then turn it off afterwards.
P.S. Avast is supposed to turn off WD anyway.