Re-installing Defender -- In Vista

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Guest

When upgrading Windows XP to Vista, I inadvertantly uninstalled the Vista
version of Defender thinking it was the XP version (using Add/Remove
Programs). I then went on to make a whole bunch of changes to the OS and
installed and reconfigured a wide range of software applications. THEN I
realized I uninstalled an OS component I needed and wanted.

There was no (apparent) way to re-install Defender. It was not a component
that I could enable nor did a system repair (from the install disk)
re-install defender; the system repair utility (apparently) perceived the
removal of Defender as a desired change and did not re-install it. Given
the myriad of changes I made to the system, using restore points is not an
option.

Any suggestions?
 
You should be able to "get it back" by going to add remove programs and then
in the list of windows components you should have an option for defender that
should put it back.

This sounds very XP like as I don't have Vista in front of me and its been
about 2 months since I touched that part of Vista. But if memeory serves that
is pretty close.

Curtis Koenig
 
OK - I finally looked at this last night, and I can't figure out what you
did. In Vista, you don't add or remove features, you just enable or disable
them--and Windows Defender is not a feature which offers that choice.

Offhand, I think I'd recommend the Vista equivalent of a repair install, but
I'm not sure how this works--haven't looked at that kind of issue at all
yet.

How about using System Restore?
 
Thanks for investigating Bill.

The Vista install was an upgrade from XP. I believe that the reason I was
able to uninstall it was because I had the old version of defender when the
system was XP. My guess is that when I did the uninstall, it 'took out'
needed Vista Defender components.

I tried doing a system repair from DVD, but that did not work. The upgrade
was painful, and I did not notice the Defender issue until I had passed
-Many- restore points. Using system restore would not work at this point -
I'd rather have a hobbled Defender. The rest of the OS seems to work fine.

In Vista one can add and remove Windows components (in a fashion similar to
XP), but Defender is not an optional, discrete component that can be added
and removed (at least it does not show up in my list of components that can
be added or removed). My understanding is that MS embedded it deeply as part
of Vista's huge emphasis on security.

Any other thoughts?
 
Thanks Curtis,

In Vista one can add and remove Windows components (in a fashion similar to
XP), but Defender is not an optional, discrete component that can be added
and removed (at least it does not show up in my list of components that can
be added or removed). My understanding is that MS embedded it deeply in the
OS as part of Vista's huge emphasis on security.

Any other thoughts?
 
OK - let's try another tack here:

Are you running OneCare on this machine? What version? How about Microsoft
Forefront Client Protection?
 
I to am having the Vista Defender re-installation issue. Defender was
removed after getting update errors with the intention of re-installing. My
install was also and upgrade from XP SP2 running production release of
Defender. Not running OneCare or Forefront.
 
Add me to the list... same scenario:
XP Upgrade to Vista
I saw problems with Defender
Used Add/Remove programs to remove it.
The downloaded Defener install won't let me reinstall it ("You don't need to
install this, as Vista has Defender built in" he he he), and Vista does not
offer it as an option.
In the Windows Security dialog it says Defender is not running (correct) but
will not start it either (of-course not... it's not there).

BTW: Cannot get OneCare to install either now... my guess is the botched
Defender issue, but not sure.
 
One additional note:
Even though Defender will not load on Vista...

If in the Windows Security Center I click:
"Turn on Now" under the list of esentials on the right, I just get a message
that says it can't load.
However, if I click the "Windows Defender" link on the left, I get a dialog
box:
"Application Failed to initialize: 0x80070002"
While that box is up, MSASCui.exe is running. As soon as I click OK, the
process ends.
 
Add me to the list. Mine was a GPO set to install Defender, then an XP
upgrade, followed by adding a WMI filter to prohibit installation on Vista.
(The GPO was set to uninstall when fell out of management).
 
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