Windows 10: Win 10 Defender doesnt start bc points to wrong subfolder - how fix?

On reboot of my Win 10 Pro 64-bit machine, the Windows Defender Antivirus Service doesn't start. If I go to services.msc to start it manually, I get an error box that "The system cannot find the file specified". See screenshot:





What I've discovered by right-clicking the service and looking at its Properties is that this service points to a subfolder that isn't there any more. It fails to point to a newer subfolder in the same folder.

It currently points to: "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\platform\4.18.2008.9-0\MsMpEng.exe" .





However, the subfolder 4.18.2008.9-0 no longer exists in the folder
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\platform\

Instead, that folder "platform" has two newer subfolders with the names
4.18.2009.7-0 and
4.18.2010.7-0
Both of those newer folders have the file MsMpEng.exe.

So, how can I get the Windows Defender Antivirus Service to point to one of those newer folders, ideally the (maybe) newest one with the title 4.18.2010.7-0?

Failing that, how can I create the missing folder 4.18.2008.9-0 and copy into it everything that is in the newer folder 4.18.2010.7-0? This is a heavily secure area, and the normal New Folder, Rename Folder and Copy and Paste operations are blocked even though I'm in the Administrators group on my machine.

And I also have exactly the same problem with Windows Defender Antivirus Network Inspection Service, which points to the file 4.18.2008.9-0\NisSrv.exe, except that 4.18.2008.9-0 no longer exists..

Thanks.

:)

 

Win 10 Defender doesnt start bc points to wrong subfolder - how fix?

@ginz, what version of Windows 10 do you have? Start key+X. Run. Type winver and press Enter.

For instance, I have 20H2 (OS Build 19041.661)

Reason I ask is I do not have a Windows Defender Antivirus service but I do have a Windows Security Service.

I also have





You may want to try doing a Repair Install. See this tutorial by Shawn Brink:
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade You should get this screen:

 

Win 10 Defender doesnt start bc points to wrong subfolder - how fix?

On reboot of my Win 10 Pro 64-bit machine, the Windows Defender Antivirus Service doesn't start. If I go to services.msc to start it manually, I get an error box that "The system cannot find the file specified". See screenshot:





What I've discovered by right-clicking the service and looking at its Properties is that this service points to a subfolder that isn't there any more. It fails to point to a newer subfolder in the same folder.

It currently points to: "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\platform\4.18.2008.9-0\MsMpEng.exe" .





However, the subfolder 4.18.2008.9-0 no longer exists in the folder
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\platform\

Instead, that folder "platform" has two newer subfolders with the names
4.18.2009.7-0 and
4.18.2010.7-0
Both of those newer folders have the file MsMpEng.exe.

So, how can I get the Windows Defender Antivirus Service to point to one of those newer folders, ideally the (maybe) newest one with the title 4.18.2010.7-0?

Failing that, how can I create the missing folder 4.18.2008.9-0 and copy into it everything that is in the newer folder 4.18.2010.7-0? This is a heavily secure area, and the normal New Folder, Rename Folder and Copy and Paste operations are blocked even though I'm in the Administrators group on my machine.

And I also have exactly the same problem with Windows Defender Antivirus Network Inspection Service, which points to the file 4.18.2008.9-0\NisSrv.exe, except that 4.18.2008.9-0 no longer exists..

Thanks.

 

Win 10 Defender doesnt start bc points to wrong subfolder - how fix?

Ztruker - I have Version 1909 (Build 18363.1016).
Will the in-place upgrade keep my 1909?
Will it delete ANY apps or files?
Thanks.

- - - Updated - - -

Well, I have apparently fixed this in a weird way.

I have a small file which lets me do things in cmd as Trusted Installer. In that role, I renamed the subfolder 4.18.2009.7-0 as 4.18.2008.9-0 since Windows Defender Antivirus Service and Windows Defender Antivirus Network Inspection Service are looking for 4.18.2008.9-0.
(I could not do this in cmd merely Running as Administrator; I got Access Denied. I had to be Trusted Installer.)

Then, in services.msc, I was able to start both Windows Defender Antivirus Service and Windows Defender Antivirus Network Inspection Service. Yay!

Then in Settings - Update & Security, I re-ran a Security Intelligence Update that had failed to run, and this time it ran well.

Now, back in services.msc, in Properties for both Windows Defender Antivirus Service and Windows Defender Antivirus Network Inspection Service, those services are now pointing to the latest subfolder 4.18.2010.7-0 !!!! Perfect (so far).

MANY THANKS to all who posted here. Everyone's suggestions led me to this train of thought.

Wow. I deserve a day off.