Windows 10: Microsoft Defender Offline Scan

I can't get the Windows Defender Offline (Excuse me, it is now known as Microsoft Defender Offline) scan to start. I tried it from PowerShell, I've tried it from CMD Prompt both with administrative rights and I've even tried from the GUI of the program itself.

I had read from a quick search, that this problem has been going on from at least two years ago; but just recently gave me a problem after the November 11th Cumulative update.

Geez, it seems as though if Microsoft didn't render your system useless a couple of years ago for security, they are sure making up for it recently.

Does anyone have a new syntax code to use for the 20H2 versions because this doesn't work any longer:

Start-MpWDOScan

That use to work in PowerShell, but is now rendered useless for the 20H2 Builds it seems.

:)

 

Defender Periodic Scanning or Offline Scanning?

That link does suggest it's useful to use Defender offline scanning in addition to periodic scanning and a third party real time anti virus (e.g. Kaspersky).

 

offline scan by win defender

Hi,

To further assist you with your concern with Windows Defender, follow the steps below:

• Open the Run window by pressing Window + R button.
• Then type services.msc and hit "Enter".
  
• Look for Windows defender service in the list and right click on it and select start.
• Once Windows defender is opened try to do the offline scan on that window.

Let us know how it goes.

 

Windows Defender Offline Scan results?

Ok. I found the log file for a Windows Defender Offline Scan.

It's a MPLog-YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.log file located in the C:\Windows\Microsoft Antimalware\Support folder.

You will notice D:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Offline Scanner towards the top in the opened log file.