Windows 10: I'd just like to confirm that Windows Defender is operational on my PC please.

I uninstalled Norton yesterday because it's just ad-ware and Windows Defender is sufficient anyway—together with the free version of Malwarebytes. However, I'd just like to make sure that Windows Defender is operating properly on my PC now that I've removed Norton. So, the first attached JPG shows the route that I take through Windows' Settings to get to its subsection that seems to pertain to Windows Defender—the Virus & threat protection sub-section, as highlighted in screenshot "3" in the first attached JPG. Then the screenshots shown in the second attached JPG show what my Virus &

:)

 

Windows defender not operating

Abdul, let me explain better.

It lists the windows defender service status as : stopped. Here's the list of steps I followed and the outcomes:

First - I clicked start button and typed in services -

Then there was no programs list but there was "Component Services" under "Äpps" so I clicked that -

Then under "Component Services " there is "Event Viewer" or "Services Local" so I clicked "Services Local"

Then there is "Windows Defender Network" or Windows Defender Services" and I tried both-

They both opened up a window to "Windows Defender Services Properties " -

Then no where is there a box to check but there is a box that says "Start" so I click on that

Then it try's to start Defender but cant and after a couple of seconds another window opens saying

"Windows could not start the Windows Defender Service services Error 577"

Abdul I listed all of this because I did not want you to misunderstand what I did and what happened. I am very appreciative for your help. Is there a phone number or something that I can use to contact somebody so that they could steer me through these steps
while I told them what was happening on the screen? Better yet, how could I get somebody to fix it from there?

Thank you brother,

Dave

 

Windows defender not operating

Hi,



Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

We regret the inconvenience caused to you.



Let us set the Windows Defender service to Automatic instead of
Disabled or Manual.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Click Start, type services in the Start Search box, and then click
  Services in the Programs list.
  
  (If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue).
  
• Double-click the Windows Defender service, and then in the Startup type box, click
  Automatic.
• Click OK.

Hope it helps.



Let us know the status, we are glad to assist you further.

 

New Event Details in "Windows Defender > Operational" Log (Event Viewer)

Hi JJJ Ham,

The events you've observed in the Windows Defender Operational log are likely part of the normal initialization and updating processes of Windows Defender, now known as Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Here's an explanation of each event:

1. Event on November 29th - "Initialize Misc Config Library" to "PostPlatformUpdate": This event corresponds with a Windows Defender update. The change from the "Old value" to the "New value" suggests a transition in the initialization stage of Defender components. "Initialize Misc Config Library" likely refers to setting up various configuration settings, while "PostPlatformUpdate" indicates that this stage is completed following an update to the Defender platform.
   
2. Subsequent Events - "PostPlatformUpdate" to "Service Started Successfully": These events show a sequential process in which Windows Defender progresses through different initialization stages. "Loading Engine" likely refers to the loading of the core antivirus engine, a critical part of Defender's functionality. The final message, "Service Started Successfully," confirms that the Defender service has successfully started and is operational.
   

These types of events are normal for the operation and updating of Microsoft Defender Antivirus. The reason you started noticing these events from the 29th could be due to a particular update or a change in the logging behavior of Windows Defender. It's common for software updates to adjust or enhance how they log events.

The absence of these events on your Windows 11 system might be due to different logging methods in Windows 10 and Windows 11, or it could be because Windows Defender operates differently when another antivirus software is in use. The registry keys related to these logs might also vary or be used differently in Windows 11.

In conclusion, the events you've noticed are a standard part of Windows Defender's operation and not a cause for concern, especially since they align with an update process. The variation in logs between Windows 10 and Windows 11 could be attributed to differences in the operating system versions or configurations.

Regards，

Manson |Microsoft Community Support Specialist