Windows Defender [SOLVED]

[YellowFox]

I just realized today that Windows Defender is running on my machine. I know !Avast uses Windows Firewall and such but I was wondering does !Avast also need Windows Defender? I'm more or less worried the two might compete or that Windows Defender might have a False Positive.

Fox.

[DavidR]

You don't say what OS you are using ?
Presumably not win8 as windows defender (WD) is an antivirus and should be disabled by windows when you install a compatible 3rd party antivirus like avast.

In windows 7 WD is installed by default and can't be uninstalled/removed only disabled.
Avast doesn't need it and it isn't that useful, disabling it was the first thing I did on my win7 netbook as avast covers anti-spyware, etc.

In windows XP you would have had to install it, so can uninstall it, if it isn't required.

[YellowFox]

Windows 7. Also thanks. Now the only question is how do I disable it? My previous AV did that for me.

[DavidR]

I can't remember how I did it, quite some time ago, but it wasn't hard. Open it and check its settings and disable it from starting. Or check the msconfig > startup tab and disable it if listed.

Or you could always ask your friend google 'how to disable windows defender in windows 7'

[YellowFox]

Alright thanks dude. To disable simply go to it's settings and unclick "Use this program"

Fox

[DavidR]

You're welcome.

[Callender]

In addition to the above it's also a good idea to set the windows defender service start up type to disabled and also to disable the windows defender scheduled scan in scheduled tasks.

The scheduled task will still try to run and create a log file even if windows defender has been disabled.

Start > Run type services.msc

Find and disable the service.

Start > Run type taskschd.msc

Expand Task Scheduler Library/ Microsoft/ Windows/ Windows Defender

Then disable the scheduled scan task.

[timmoore46]

I'm a newbie to this forum and I've not found the 'New Topic' button.  But my problem is related to this thread I think....

I have XP on a laptop and installed Zone Alarm firewall.   the laptop also runs Windows Defender which I've never heard of ( I use Ubuntu Linux normally)

I then downloaded Avast Free and installed it.  It installed fine.

To test all was well I powered down and restarted it.  XP worked fine and suddenly I had a blue screen of death for about 1/3rd of a second and it crashed ! 

This it does repeatedly each time I power it up !

What do I do next ?  I've no idea as I've never experience a Virus Protection program being incompatible with a Windows OS before.

Help Please ! Any ideas anyone

A very puzzled,

Tim   

[Asyn]

I have XP on a laptop and installed Zone Alarm firewall.

You've to drop ZA.

[timmoore46]

I have XP on a laptop and installed Zone Alarm firewall.

You've to drop ZA.

Many thanks !  I'll try....   It gives me about 7 seconds to achieve that before it crashes....

A happ0ier,

Tim

[CraigB]

I have XP on a laptop and installed Zone Alarm firewall.

You've to drop ZA.

Many thanks !  I'll try....   It gives me about 7 seconds to achieve that before it crashes....

A happ0ier,

Tim

You should be able to boot into safemode and uninstall ZA from there, tap f8 while starting the system to get into safemode.

[timmoore46]

I have XP on a laptop and installed Zone Alarm firewall.

You've to drop ZA.

Many thanks !  I'll try....   It gives me about 7 seconds to achieve that before it crashes....

A happ0ier,

Tim

You should be able to boot into safemode and uninstall ZA from there, tap f8 while starting the system to get into safemode.

I didn't know that !   That is the fix !  I'll report back as soon as I've tried that !

:  )))

Tim