Windows 10: Windows Defender fails to Open - error

I need your help please. Windows defender doesn't want to open and I have no virus/spam software running. I think the problem was caused by some new malware.

When I click the defender icon on desktop or cpanel:
Windows cannot access the specified device path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access them.

When I try to force open defender in C:\Program Files\Windows Defender, I get this message
MSASCui.exe: Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item. (Most .exe in this directory give that message)

When I go to services.msc, I see that Window Defender service is not started. On clicking start, I get this error message:
Windows could not start Windows Defender Service service on local computer. Error 14105: The size of the manifest exceeds the maximum allowed.

Windows Defender Network is also stopped and cannot be started (Error 5: access denied)

Hope you can be able to help me to solve this issue.
Thank you in advance

:)

 

Unable Updating Windows Defender

Yesterday Windows Update KB2267602 Windows Defender AntiVirus failed to complete installing with error code 0x80070643 with several attempts. Today I tried updating by opening Windows Defender and using the check for updates and it failed to complete
installing with error code 0x8050a003. Is there a fix or workaround?

 

I have not been able to access windows Defender and I am unsure why.

I have a similar problem with Windows defender. When I try to open Windows Defender, it fails to open with the error message:

" An error has occurred in the program during initialization."

Error code: 0x800b100

I have signed in with a local account with administrative privileges.

Thanks in advance.

 

IF it helps I ran rkill.exe and gave out this log:

Code: Rkill 2.8.4 by Lawrence Abrams (Grinler)BleepingComputer Copyright 2008-2017 BleepingComputer.com More Information about Rkill can be found at this link: RKill - What it does and What it Doesn't - A brief introduction to the program - Anti-Virus, Anti-Malware, and Privacy Software Program started at: 02/03/2017 07:52:09 AM in x64 mode. Windows Version: Windows 10 Home Checking for Windows services to stop: * No malware services found to stop. Checking for processes to terminate: * C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dxconfig.exe (PID: 3408) [WD-HEUR] * C:\Windows\SysWOW64\dxconfig.exe (PID: 10392) [WD-HEUR] 2 proccesses terminated! Checking Registry for malware related settings: * No issues found in the Registry. Resetting .EXE, .COM, & .BAT associations in the Windows Registry. Performing miscellaneous checks: * Modified HKCU\...\Winlogon: [Shell] => explorer.exe,"C:\Users\Steven\AppData\Roaming\clientmonitor.exe" * No issues found. Checking Windows Service Integrity: * gagp30kx [Missing Service] * IEEtwCollectorService [Missing Service] * IoQos [Missing Service] * nv_agp [Missing Service] * TimeBroker [Missing Service] * tunnel [Missing Service] * uagp35 [Missing Service] * uliagpkx [Missing Service] * WcsPlugInService [Missing Service] * wpcfltr [Missing Service] * WSService [Missing Service] * agp440 [Missing ImagePath] * AJRouter => %SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalServiceNetworkRestricted [Incorrect ImagePath] * WpnService => %systemroot%\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs [Incorrect ImagePath] * vmicrdv => %SystemRoot%\System32\icsvcext.dll [Incorrect ServiceDLL] * vmicvss => %SystemRoot%\System32\icsvcext.dll [Incorrect ServiceDLL] Searching for Missing Digital Signatures: * No issues found. Checking HOSTS File: * HOSTS file entries found: 127.0.0.1 localhost ::1 localhost 127.0.0.1 activation.acronis.com Program finished at: 02/03/2017 07:52:38 AM Execution time: 0 hours(s), 0 minute(s), and 28 seconds(s)[/quote]

 

When "Distributed Link Tracking Client" service is disabled, exe gives that error.
You are also missing TimeBroker service required by the new Windows shell.

Unless you have disabled those plus others, something have seriously messed up your Windows.
To enable WD and that service, download "Enable WD TrkWks.bat" and run it as admin, then restart.
But it might not be enough to fix everything, you might need to Reset Windows 10 to fix other issues.

 

I had this error with Windows7/Security Essentials a number of years ago, I used a free tool from Microsoft (Microsoft Safety Scanner) to fix the problem.

Once downloaded I ran a Full Scan

 

Thank you Tairiku - yes I suspect some malware messed up some parts of my Win10 - I started receiving lots of spam recently. I opted to start automatic Distributed Link Tracking Client and after a reset it is running. Still Defender is dead.

VFR Rider, I'm downloading MS Safety Scanner and let you know what happens. I am also trying Antibyte Malware too.

Is it possible to uninstall defender completely and re-install it - maybe that solves the problem.

 

No. If your scans are negative, consider a System Restore to a point before the problem.

Since your system has actually been unprotected, I would do a System Reset. Your files can be saved. May have to reinstall some addons and software.

Check the tutorials above if not familiar with Restore or Reset process.

 

Malware bytes found 90 threats and removed them (but I saw that mostly were cookies)
Microsoft Safety Scanner has far found 10 infected files and still running

I hope my Acronis backup was done before the infection - that would save me.
System restore is not an option I think.
Reset PC my last hope!

Will keep you informed
Just to say thanks

 

Unfortunately still without Windows defender. Is there a way to learn what is messed up ? I think that I do not have any virus now, but need to recover the 'damage' inflicted by the malware of which at least one was to deactivate defender. Otherwise I do not have any other issue.

 

I think that I found at least part of the problem. I have the registry \software\microsoft\windows defender disableantispyware and disableantimalware set to 0 where I read it must be 1. When I try to set it to 1, I get an ownership error. I also read that this is fixed by the tool regownit - but I still can't get ownership and possibly I am using wrong this tool. Any help please tp set this to 1

 

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

 

So far, I am still without Windows Defender with the same error, but otherwise the system is stable and operating normally. I have run some 6 virus scanners / antimalware software and it seams I have a clean system. Now I am pretty sure that I have some settings of Windows Defender messed up. Is there a way to know all the registry settings of a good Windows Defender should be to compare with mine? At this stage I am pretty sure it is a settings/permissions/registry/missing file? problem. I attach a snapshot of my windows defender registry

https://fud.community.services.suppo...c-ac4fb72dc155