Windows Defender cannot install or uninstall

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Guest

I quote from somebody elses post;

George from Windows KB forum wrote;

"When I try to remove Windows Defender using Control Panel add/remove
programs, I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package ‘WindowsDefender.msi’ in box below

It points to a temp file that is not around anymore.

I downloaded WindowsDefender.msi and out it in my Windows Defender folder,
and tried to point to it but I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package ‘WindowsDefender.msi’ in box below"

To add to that - no cleanup tool has been found. Registry keys for Defender
have been deleted (or so I think) and I have no idea why this error occurs.

How do I fix this error?
 
Option 1: Create the temp (source) folder manually.

Is the installation folder present? If not, create the folder and place
WindowsDefender.msi in that folder. Then try uninstalling the product

Option 2: Create a new installation source in the registry.

Click Start, Run and type REGEDIT.EXE
Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\4F57260AB42358E4596E782BDC274910\SourceList\Net
Create a new REG_SZ value named "2" and type "C:\" as its data.
Close Regedit.exe

Now, place WindowsDefender.msi in C:\ drive, and start uninstalling the
product via Add/Remove Programs.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I quote from somebody elses post;

George from Windows KB forum wrote;

"When I try to remove Windows Defender using Control Panel add/remove
programs, I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package 'WindowsDefender.msi' in box below

It points to a temp file that is not around anymore.

I downloaded WindowsDefender.msi and out it in my Windows Defender folder,
and tried to point to it but I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package 'WindowsDefender.msi' in box below"

To add to that - no cleanup tool has been found. Registry keys for Defender
have been deleted (or so I think) and I have no idea why this error occurs.

How do I fix this error?
 
Hi Ramesh

4F57260AB42358E4596E782BDC274910 does not exist in that section of my
registry, so I will try Option 1 and see how it goes.

Ramesh said:
Option 1: Create the temp (source) folder manually.

Is the installation folder present? If not, create the folder and place
WindowsDefender.msi in that folder. Then try uninstalling the product

Option 2: Create a new installation source in the registry.

Click Start, Run and type REGEDIT.EXE
Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\4F57260AB42358E4596E782BDC274910\SourceList\Net
Create a new REG_SZ value named "2" and type "C:\" as its data.
Close Regedit.exe

Now, place WindowsDefender.msi in C:\ drive, and start uninstalling the
product via Add/Remove Programs.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I quote from somebody elses post;

George from Windows KB forum wrote;

"When I try to remove Windows Defender using Control Panel add/remove
programs, I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package 'WindowsDefender.msi' in box below

It points to a temp file that is not around anymore.

I downloaded WindowsDefender.msi and out it in my Windows Defender folder,
and tried to point to it but I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package 'WindowsDefender.msi' in box below"

To add to that - no cleanup tool has been found. Registry keys for Defender
have been deleted (or so I think) and I have no idea why this error occurs.

How do I fix this error?
Click to expand...
 
Tried creating a folder in Program Files for the installer to find, and it
said that the file it found was not valid.

Any other ideas?

Ramesh said:
Option 1: Create the temp (source) folder manually.

Is the installation folder present? If not, create the folder and place
WindowsDefender.msi in that folder. Then try uninstalling the product

Option 2: Create a new installation source in the registry.

Click Start, Run and type REGEDIT.EXE
Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\4F57260AB42358E4596E782BDC274910\SourceList\Net
Create a new REG_SZ value named "2" and type "C:\" as its data.
Close Regedit.exe

Now, place WindowsDefender.msi in C:\ drive, and start uninstalling the
product via Add/Remove Programs.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I quote from somebody elses post;

George from Windows KB forum wrote;

"When I try to remove Windows Defender using Control Panel add/remove
programs, I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package 'WindowsDefender.msi' in box below

It points to a temp file that is not around anymore.

I downloaded WindowsDefender.msi and out it in my Windows Defender folder,
and tried to point to it but I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package 'WindowsDefender.msi' in box below"

To add to that - no cleanup tool has been found. Registry keys for Defender
have been deleted (or so I think) and I have no idea why this error occurs.

How do I fix this error?
Click to expand...
 
Hi Ramesh

I tried to follow Option 1 and got the following message;

The file 'C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5\Q62BSA30\WindowsDefender.msi' is not a valid installation
package for the product. Try to find the installation package
'WindowsDefender[1].msi' in a folder from which you can install.

What do I do now?

Ramesh said:
Option 1: Create the temp (source) folder manually.

Is the installation folder present? If not, create the folder and place
WindowsDefender.msi in that folder. Then try uninstalling the product

Option 2: Create a new installation source in the registry.

Click Start, Run and type REGEDIT.EXE
Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\4F57260AB42358E4596E782BDC274910\SourceList\Net
Create a new REG_SZ value named "2" and type "C:\" as its data.
Close Regedit.exe

Now, place WindowsDefender.msi in C:\ drive, and start uninstalling the
product via Add/Remove Programs.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I quote from somebody elses post;

George from Windows KB forum wrote;

"When I try to remove Windows Defender using Control Panel add/remove
programs, I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package 'WindowsDefender.msi' in box below

It points to a temp file that is not around anymore.

I downloaded WindowsDefender.msi and out it in my Windows Defender folder,
and tried to point to it but I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package 'WindowsDefender.msi' in box below"

To add to that - no cleanup tool has been found. Registry keys for Defender
have been deleted (or so I think) and I have no idea why this error occurs.

How do I fix this error?
Click to expand...
 
For some reason, even the MVP's don't understand this very basic error...
For every body running into this issue...I have good news and bad news.

The good This error occurs because the original .msi file you used to
install the earlier version of Denfender no longer exists. You may have
emptied your temp directory, or no longer have a network share that contained
the original .msi install file.

The bad I have no idea how to fix this. Because...Even if you recreate
the path, the uninstall will fail. You do not have the original .msi file you
first installed from. Placing the newer version in this location will not do
you a bit of good.
So, until someone that truly understands what is going here offers a link to
older versions of Defender, or gives us an alternative way to force an
install of the new version, we're dead in the water...

I'm hoping I have the old version sitting around my network somewhere so I
can finally uninstall...

Good luck.

coldelephant said:
Hi Ramesh

I tried to follow Option 1 and got the following message;

The file 'C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5\Q62BSA30\WindowsDefender.msi' is not a valid installation
package for the product. Try to find the installation package
'WindowsDefender[1].msi' in a folder from which you can install.

What do I do now?

Ramesh said:
Option 1: Create the temp (source) folder manually.
It points to a temp file that is not around anymore
Click to expand...

Is the installation folder present? If not, create the folder and place
WindowsDefender.msi in that folder. Then try uninstalling the product

Option 2: Create a new installation source in the registry.

Click Start, Run and type REGEDIT.EXE
Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\4F57260AB42358E4596E782BDC274910\SourceList\Net
Create a new REG_SZ value named "2" and type "C:\" as its data.
Close Regedit.exe

Now, place WindowsDefender.msi in C:\ drive, and start uninstalling the
product via Add/Remove Programs.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I quote from somebody elses post;

George from Windows KB forum wrote;

"When I try to remove Windows Defender using Control Panel add/remove
programs, I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package 'WindowsDefender.msi' in box below

It points to a temp file that is not around anymore.

I downloaded WindowsDefender.msi and out it in my Windows Defender folder,
and tried to point to it but I get this error message.

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is
unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package 'WindowsDefender.msi' in box below"

To add to that - no cleanup tool has been found. Registry keys for Defender
have been deleted (or so I think) and I have no idea why this error occurs.

How do I fix this error?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Another suggests doing the following...
Which is a link of a link of a link...
Doing this will indeed take your version back to the original definitions
file.
However, it does nothing to fix the issue we are having...
That is a missing older version .msi file.
Without that, you still will not be able to uninstall.

See Engel's definition fix...
---Begin Engel Quote---
1) For Signature v.1.14.1647.70 & Engine V 1.1.1560.0
http://www.download.windowsupdate.c..._762a99fa8712bcd4502109231b420809e47509ae.exe
2) For Signature v. 1.14.1706.7 from
http://au.download.windowsupdate.co..._cfa75ab01595d3d669462568161f3a6ca849a711.exe
End result:
WD v. 1.1.1347.0
Engine v. 1.1.1560.0
Signature v. 1.14.1706.7 created September 25, 2006

Grab both those files and put them on your desktop.

Then, go to a command prompt in the installation folder for Windows
Defender--typically c:\program files\windows defender

type:

mpcmdrun -RemoveDefinitions -All

and hit enter.

then double click on the definition files in the order in I lists them--the
first one includes MPASFE as a part of the name, then the second one.

That should get you current. ---End Engel Quote---


So, having said all of that, does anyone have links back to older install
versions so we can recreate our original file paths and fix this issue?

Thanks for any help, I know this kind of thing can be frustrating.
 
That's the fix!
Forgot about that tool...
Thanks for the link jdantz
All is well in DefenderLand again.
 
This is how I fixed it:

Used the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility and removed Windows Defender and
the Signatures that way. I then tried the installation again and it
installed correctly..
 
This simply did not work for me. The error message has changed, however.
Now it simply says I do not have "adequate permissions" to uninstall the old
software.
 
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