Re-enable Windows Defender in Windows 8 (aka MSE in Windows 7, Vista)

writhziden · Jan 22, 2013

To make it easier to find the steps, I am including them in this post:

For Windows 8 Users:

To re-enable Defender, follow the subsequent steps.

Click in the lower left corner of the desktop to open the Start Page.
Type Action Center and click Settings to open Action Center.
Click on Security to expand the Security area.
Wait a minute to let the Security area refresh to show Security vulnerabilities.
You should see a message to Turn on now for Windows Defender. Click the Turn on now button.
Make sure Windows Firewall is also turned on.
In Defender, click the Update tab, and then click the Update button.

This tutorial was originally intended for Windows 8 users only, but confusion arose due to the title. The below steps will help users to re-install or install Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) on their systems.

For Windows XP/Vista/7 Users:

Download Microsoft Security Essentials.

Download Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows
Install Microsoft Security Essentials using the downloaded application. XP installation steps are nearly identical to those given in the links below To install a program from the Internet.

Install a program - Windows Vista

Install a program - Windows 7

Further Reading:

Tekno Venus said:
I would add some info about Windows Defender in W8 --

In Windows 8, Microsoft decided to include their own anti-virus software built in called Windows Defender. This software is the equivalent of Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows 7, Vista and XP but is pre-installed by Microsoft. However, it is not the same as Windows Defender in Vista, since that did not offer real-time malware protection, despite the same name. Some more information can be found here --> Understanding Microsoft Anti-Malware Software 2012 ~ Security Garden <-- for those who are interested

AceInfinity · Feb 15, 2013

I seen a link to this, but: "Re-enable Windows Defender (aka MSE in Windows 7, Vista)"

Isn't MSE -> Windows Defender, in Windows 8 only? Windows 7 and Vista, it's separate. Microsoft Security Essentials wasn't Windows Defender in Vista/Win7.

writhziden · Feb 15, 2013

Correct. (aka MSE in Windows 7, Vista) means that Defender is/was known as MSE in 7 and Vista and not known as Defender. Defender in Windows 8 is the same as MSE is/was in 7 and Vista.

AceInfinity · Feb 15, 2013

writhziden said:
Correct. (aka MSE in Windows 7, Vista) means that Defender is/was known as MSE in 7 and Vista and not known as Defender. Defender in Windows 8 is the same as MSE is/was in 7 and Vista.

Okay, but somehow the title seems a bit misleading. MSE has to be downloaded in Vista/Win7, so the only way to enable it is to install it, otherwise to re-enable it if it has already been installed, but was disabled prior to the attempt at enabling it.

The steps provided are all in relation to Windows 8. So with Vista and Windows 7 in the title here as referenced, I think the tutorial to Re-Enable Defender, or Install or Re-Enable MSE inclusive of the Vista/Win7 operating systems, should be expanded on a bit since the steps are not the same as per Windows 8.

As a Windows 7 user with no Windows 8 experience for instance:

Just for clarification: After removing Norton, you will be unable install Microsoft Security Essentials in Windows 8. Windows 8 comes with Windows Defender, which is Microsoft Security Essentials with a new name. Defender will remain disabled after Norton is removed, so you will need to enable it again. To enable Defender, follow the subsequent steps.

Click in the lower left corner of the desktop to open the Start Page.

Type Action Center and click Settings to open Action Center.

Click on Security to expand the Security area.

Wait a minute to let the Security area refresh to show Security vulnerabilities.

You should see a message to Turn on now for Windows Defender. Click the Turn on now button.

Make sure Windows Firewall is also turned on.

In Defender, click the Update tab, and then click the Update button.

Reading that would be very confusing and probably wouldn't work for me. If I did that, I wouldn't have the power of MSE, but the old Windows Defender found in Vista/Win7, which is nothing like the Defender/MSE in Windows 8, or the independent version downloadable from the Microsoft website, if, the individual is not using Windows 8. :grin1:

Perhaps a format like:

Code:

For Windows Vista/7 users:
...
For Windows 8 users:
...

{Note here about the difference of Defender between Vista/7 and Windows 8, and what it has to do with MSE in Windows 8, in comparison to Vista/7}

~Ace

Corrine · Feb 16, 2013

Any confusion is a result of Microsoft re-using the Windows Defender name when re-branding Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows 8. Not only is the Windows Defender name used for the antivirus software included with Windows 8, it is included in the rebranded name "Windows Defender Offline" for the "Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper" which was originally part of the Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT) for Microsoft Enterprise customers.

The confusion must be why my Understanding Microsoft Anti-Malware Software 2012 article is so popular.

writhziden · Feb 16, 2013

AceInfinity said:
Okay, but somehow the title seems a bit misleading. MSE has to be downloaded in Vista/Win7, so the only way to enable it is to install it, otherwise to re-enable it if it has already been installed, but was disabled prior to the attempt at enabling it.

The steps provided are all in relation to Windows 8. So with Vista and Windows 7 in the title here as referenced, I think the tutorial to Re-Enable Defender, or Install or Re-Enable MSE inclusive of the Vista/Win7 operating systems, should be expanded on a bit since the steps are not the same as per Windows 8.

~Ace

The steps are provided for Windows 8 within the Windows 8 tutorial section. Still, I have added Windows XP/Vista/7 steps to help users install/re-install MSE.

Tekno Venus · Feb 16, 2013

I would add some info about Windows Defender in W8 --

In Windows 8, Microsoft decided to include their own anti-virus software built in called Windows Defender. This software is the equivalent of Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows 7, Vista and XP but is pre-installed by Microsoft. However, it is not the same as Windows Defender in Vista, since that did not offer real-time malware protection, despite the same name. Some more information can be found here --> Understanding Microsoft Anti-Malware Software 2012 ~ Security Garden <-- for those who are interested

writhziden · Feb 16, 2013

Thanks Stephen. I added your post to the tutorial as a further reading section. I think you worded it very well, so it is better quoted than re-worded. :-}

jcgriff2 · Oct 15, 2013

deuskopo said:
Hi,

Press Windows Keys+R or Click Start->Run and type the following without the quotes
"sc start WinDefend Enable"

Then try opening Windows Defender again.

Here's the link for your reference

Windows Defender not working - Sysnative Forums

WINDOW 8 : Windows Defender service will not start - Microsoft Community

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Re-enable Windows Defender in Windows 8 (aka MSE in Windows 7, Vista)

writhziden

Administrator, .NET/UWP Developer

AceInfinity

Emeritus, Contributor

writhziden

Administrator, .NET/UWP Developer

AceInfinity

Emeritus, Contributor

Corrine

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

writhziden

Administrator, .NET/UWP Developer

Tekno Venus

Senior Administrator, Developer

writhziden

Administrator, .NET/UWP Developer

jcgriff2

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Re-enable Windows Defender in Windows 8 (aka MSE in Windows 7, Vista)

Administrator, .NET/UWP Developer

Emeritus, Contributor

Administrator, .NET/UWP Developer

Emeritus, Contributor

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

Administrator, .NET/UWP Developer

Senior Administrator, Developer

Administrator, .NET/UWP Developer

Co-Founder / AdminBSOD Instructor/ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)