[Answer]windows defender

Question：Hi,  I recently discovered that windows defender is supposed to be part of my windows home vista package.

 I tried to turn on the feature and got an error message that the program was not found.

 I tried to download windows defender and was told that it is already part of my windows vista package.

 I went again to security and clicked on windows defender.   I get "application not found"

How do I fix this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Edit - I also tried this found in related topics  - go to Control panel-then Administration Tools - Computer Managerment - Service Application - Services - find windows defender in Services you will notice it will be blank or disabled - now you have to high light windows defender, double click and then select automatic, click on the word Start - apply changes and re boot your computer - and we know this works because it took us 4 HOURS to complete and ours works fantastic - good luck !!!!

This did not work,  I got "error 126: specified module not found"  I also do not have mcafee installed.  I am using AVG, but it is a recent install and windows defender has never worked.

Christina

Answer 1：Go to control panel/ administrative tools/ command prompt and right click on command prompt and click on run as Administrator. Then type sft /scannow (note the space - it's important) and let te program run. This fixes many system file errors and problems. When it's done (and assuming it completed with no errors it couldn't fix) you should try again to open defender.  If that doesn't work (or if it comes up with errors it can't fix) then boot to the OS CD and run a system repair (not the recovery console but a system repair a few screens in). That's a more drastic but comprehensive way of repairing the installation and maybe getting back defender.

Let us know how it worked out for you.  If none of this worked (it should but if) then maybe someone can come up with another solution.

If you have an antivirus and or antispyware program running (or several), I'd deactivate it or them during these tasks since they could interfere with the reinstallation of files.  Remember to turn it back on when it's done (even if it didn't work).

Answer 2：Thanks for trying. I go to control panel, administrative tools and then there is not a command prompt option. I did get to command prompt through another route and typed in the sft /scannow. I get a message that sft is not a valid parameter or something like that. I am logged on as an administrator. I don't have a system disk, compaq has the system recovery on another drive. When I open the system drive, I do see the recovery, but when I click on it, or try to enter to get to a system repair section, I just get a warning not to change the recovery partition. I guess I don't have to run windows defender, but it would be nice to have the option. If there are any other suggestions, I'd appreciate it. Thanks, Chris

Answer 3：When you get to the Command Prompt icon you need to RIGHT click it and then click on run as administrator. Being logged in as an administrator isn't enough.  Try doing this and then running that program.