Windows 10: Protection History crash

So, I'm using windows 10 Pro. Windows defender detected a virus. But when I open protection settings on windows defender UI it just crashes after a few seconds. I've tried fixes I saw online including deleting history scans and updating windows, but none of them worked. I'm worried that my computer may have a virus hidden somewhere. Please help, thank you.

:)

 

Protection History Crashing

The title says it all. I've found numerous articles on the Internet with this very issue. A file gets blocked from accessing a protected folder, you click the notification, and the Protection History pops up. You can then click the blocked apps and choose
whether to allow or leave it blocked.

For a few days now, when I click Protection History, the UI pops up and then crashes after a few seconds of attempting to retrieve the history. It never actually displays the apps that were blocked. This is going to be an issue since I install a lot of things
that attempt to access protected folders and I need to choose what to allow and what not to allow. I've tried several things, including a System Restore to a few days prior, but none of that has helped.

This appears to a relatively common Windows Defender issue. I need to know how to fix this, short of a clean Windows install. I've been in IT for almost 20 years and am comfortable navigating files and registry.

Jim

 

Clearing Windows Defender history

Hey, what you need to do is so simple, just follow the steps below exactly in order:

1. Turn OFF Real-time Protection
2. Turn OFF Cloud-delivered Protection
3. Go to this folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scans\History\Service
4. Delete the contents in the folder
5. Turn ON Real-time Protection
6. Turn ON Cloud-delivered Protection

That's it... Now check protection History, it's empty.
Done!

 

Windows Defender Threat Protection history crashes

I used to be able to see and alter the controlled folder access protection history with windows 10. Ever since a recent update I cannot view my protection history without the window crashing. I have tried deleting my threat protection history but even
in Command Prompt and the other solutions I found it cannot find any folders for it. I am at a loss because Windows Defender blocks nearly everything I try to save and its harder to exclude it without being able to see my history. Any help would be appreciated,
thank you.