Windows Defender Does not Install

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gus in Florida
  • Start date Start date
G

Gus in Florida

Hi All,

When trying to install Windows Defender, I was getting the following error
"Service 'Windows Defender' (WinDefend) failed to start. Verify you have
sufficient privileges to start system services."

My problem was due to Spyware or a virus. I got rid of the Spyware by using
AVG and MalWareBytes but was still not able to install Defender (also I had
never had Defender installed on the PC).

Here is how I fixed it:
Searched the Registry for any "Defender" entries. Found an entry under
"HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows Defender". When I tried to delete it
(Windows Defender folder) I found I could not due to not enough rights. So I
right-clicked the folder selected "Permissions" for this folder and gave the
Administrator FULL rights (it had only READ). I was then able to delete this
registry folder.After this I was able to install Windows Defender without any
problems. I believe that the Spyware or virus I got added this entry to the
registry to prevent me from installing Windows Defender.

Hope this fix works for you guys :-)
 
Gus, you have effectively created the EASIEST fix I have ever found for an
issue with Microsoft products. They should honestly pay you for such an easy
fix. It took me a bit of time to find the FOLDER (For those reading this it
is not an actual Registry that you fix permissions) and then after changing
permissions I deleted the disable anti-malware registry in that folder.

I have been bothered by this for MONTHS and in a simple paragraph the answer
was posted. Thank you Thank you Gus.
 
Gus, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. This is the right fix! I've been five
days trying to re-install Defender, this finally did the trick. Set a restore
point as always for safety,
then>Start>RUN>regedit>OK>HKEYLocalMachine>Software>Microsoft>Windows
Defender>right click (or EDIT) permissions>check Allow Full
Control>Apply>OK>right click Windows Defender>delete>question-do you want to
delete Defender and all sub-folders?>yes>close all. Now install Defender.
Even my Defender History returned. Again many thanks. OS WinXP sp3
 
Oh my gosh Gus! You are the MAN! The trouble I (and many other people from
what i read) went through trying many different failed attempts and countless
hours to load Defender was mind numbing. Then I stumble upon your solution
and bingo, it works like a charm.

If only all MS Windows related problems had such an easy fix! Thanks Gus
for sharing your solution with us. Again, you da man!
 
We cannot guess how your circumstances relate to those in the rest of this
thread.

The best practice is to start a new thread describing your problem from
scratch--what is the symptom, what version of Windows, what have you tried,
etc.
 
I tried your fix and when I try to change the permissions I always get that I
don't have permission to change the permission! How do I get around that?
 
You need to take ownership of the keys in question before you can change the
permissions--this is in the same dialog area.
 
Gus in Florida said:
Hi All,

When trying to install Windows Defender, I was getting the following error
"Service 'Windows Defender' (WinDefend) failed to start. Verify you have
sufficient privileges to start system services."

My problem was due to Spyware or a virus. I got rid of the Spyware by using
AVG and MalWareBytes but was still not able to install Defender (also I had
never had Defender installed on the PC).

Here is how I fixed it:
Searched the Registry for any "Defender" entries. Found an entry under
"HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows Defender". When I tried to delete it
(Windows Defender folder) I found I could not due to not enough rights. So I
right-clicked the folder selected "Permissions" for this folder and gave the
Administrator FULL rights (it had only READ). I was then able to delete this
registry folder.After this I was able to install Windows Defender without any
problems. I believe that the Spyware or virus I got added this entry to the
registry to prevent me from installing Windows Defender.

Hope this fix works for you guys :-)
Click to expand...
 
It did not work at first and then noticed that I also had to add my
administrative account to the list of "Groups or Usernames" and then it
worked like a charm.

Thanks Gus, great fix.
 
Tried to run regedit but the virus has hijacked that. Can't even get Process
Explorer to download.
 
You'll probably need to do some downloading on another system to get cleaned
up. You can try safe mode with networking which may (or may not) disable
some of the stuff the virus has put into place.

You'd be better off with expert help--either a specialized system cleaning
forum--aumha.org for example, or call Microsoft directly--they offer free
help for this kind of issue 1-866-pcsafety.
 
--
Never Say Die!


Gus in Florida said:
Hi All,

When trying to install Windows Defender, I was getting the following error
"Service 'Windows Defender' (WinDefend) failed to start. Verify you have
sufficient privileges to start system services."

My problem was due to Spyware or a virus. I got rid of the Spyware by using
AVG and MalWareBytes but was still not able to install Defender (also I had
never had Defender installed on the PC).

Here is how I fixed it:
Searched the Registry for any "Defender" entries. Found an entry under
"HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows Defender". When I tried to delete it
(Windows Defender folder) I found I could not due to not enough rights. So I
right-clicked the folder selected "Permissions" for this folder and gave the
Administrator FULL rights (it had only READ). I was then able to delete this
registry folder.After this I was able to install Windows Defender without any
problems. I believe that the Spyware or virus I got added this entry to the
registry to prevent me from installing Windows Defender.

Hope this fix works for you guys :-)
Click to expand...

It worked like a charm. Tried to install Windows Defender after Symantec
Small Business Edition on the machine with WinXP - no luck, but after reading
this post I went to registry, changed permissions to FULL for the
Administrors Group, enabled all necessary features of Windows Defender and
now it works like a champ alongside with Symantec, and no problem whatsoever.
Thanks a lot.
 
I try your steps but I still can not delete the folder as I do not have
permission. I'm the Admin on my PC.
 
Back
Top