Reinstall, restore Windows Defender

ArmatageShanks

ArmatageShanks

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Can someone please help to to fix defender on windows 11, its fscking broken again for no apparent reason

I've tried a load of fixes from copious amounts of googling but no joy.

Issue is, Defender is running perfectly well, I, however, have absolutely no access to it or any of its controls, so I can't disable it or even choose actions for detected threats.

Trying to access it from settings:

Running the windows security app, black screen only

1679860441326.png

Trying Virus and threat protection from start:

1679860511597.png

There are no other users on this pc, nor have there ever been, account is Admin.

Any ideas?

Anti Malware exe running, often raping storage drives at random, regardless if they've been accessed or have files that would need scanning for any logical reason

1679860728029.png


EDIT: Also tried reset and repair on the windows security app, does nothing, option for uninstall is unavailable.
 
Last edited:
Fulcrum29 said:
Did an MS tech activate your Windows?
Click to expand...
Nope, pre activated courtesy of the high seas on this pc.

EDIT: Defender worked normally from install, this issue happened recently, re installed windows, eventually it happened again.
 
ArmatageShanks said:
Nope, pre activated courtesy of the high seas on this pc.
Click to expand...

That is possibly what has broken it, the KMS activation. It is a volume 'key' which is managed, basically you don't have an administrative account. I believe that there are workarounds, perhaps a 'reactivation' will also do, but I cannot advise on this.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
That is possibly what has broken it, the KMS activation. It is a volume 'key' which is managed, basically you don't have an administrative account. I believe that there are workarounds, perhaps a 'reactivation' will also do, but I cannot advise on this.
Click to expand...
Makes sense, I have no preference to Defender though, do old fashioned antivirus's still replace it completely? Wouldn't mind using Bitdefender or such if that's the case.
 
ArmatageShanks said:
Makes sense, I have no preference to Defender though, do old fashioned antivirus's still replace it completely? Wouldn't mind using Bitdefender or such if that's the case.
Click to expand...

Yes, it does. Third-party apps replace the "Virus & threat protection" though periodic scans can still be enabled. Just make sure that you have one anti-virus/anti-malware/etc. app installed because Windows only really likes one to be run as a service.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
Yes, it does. Third-party apps replace the "Virus & threat protection" though periodic scans can still be enabled. Just make sure that you have one anti-virus/anti-malware/etc. app installed because Windows only really likes one to be run as a service.
Click to expand...
I'll give Malware bytes a shot
 
Why pirate? Like @capd said, a genuine windows key is less than R250 for Windows 10/11 Pro, depending where you get it.
 
Apart from physical media decades ago and steam games, the only other software I've ever thought deserves paying for was reWASD, which I did.
 
Don’t even need a license to be legitimate, can just run the Insider version for free.
 
you can get liscences on BoB for less than a coke ,why struggle ?a fresh download and a legit code and you may not have issues .
 
Last edited:
ArmatageShanks said:
License is a theory for the issue, many others with legit installs experiencing the same.
Click to expand...
The chances then could be that they use a workplace or schools account, but as I previously said there is a workaround which could restore the service in the case it is borked. Just Google it, should be on the netz.

As long as you are easy with scripts or tweaks then it will be no problem.
 
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