How to Disable (Remove and Uninstall) Windows Defender in Vista
Windows Defender which was previously known as Microsoft AntiSpyware is an anti-spyware utility that built-in in Windwso Vista to detect, prevent, remove and quarantine spywares. Although it’s packaged with the operating system, and thus free of charge (or already been added into cost), not all users will need Windows Defender. Unfortunately there is no clear-cut way to remove or uninstall Windows Defender in Vista. Use the trick and hack below to disable Windows Defender in a way that as is Windows Defender is been uninstalled or removed.
The most easy way to to uninstall or remove Windows Defender in Vista (since you can’t actually uninstall it) is by disabling and turning off Windows Vista’s Windows Defender. Windows Defender provides an graphical user interface (GUI) to easily stop using Windows Defender in real-time protection checking, and disable and turn off Windows Defender service.
Note that a lot of guides have asked to disable Windows Defender service via Services in Control Panel and uncheck the startup item in System Configuration (MSConfig) in order to turn off Windows Defender and prevent it from starting up. This is uncessary, and it’s not a recommended way as any misstep will cause error message (explained below).
- Run Windows Defender from Start Menu.
- Click on Tools button.
- Then click on Options link under “Tools and Settings” section.
- Scroll down the “Options” page, and uncheck the check boxes of the following two settings:
Use real-time protection (recommended) under “Real-time protection options”
Use Windows Defender under “Administrator options”
Note that both options MUST be unchecked for the Windows Defender service in Windows Vista to be completely stopped. Else, only real-time protection is disabled.
- Click on Save button.
- A “Windows Defender is turned off” dialog message will appear, confirming that Windows Defender no longer runs. Once the Windows Defender is disabled, it’s sort of been uninstalled too, as any attempt to run the program will bring up “Windows Defender is turned off dialog window and unable to proceed to Windows Defender main window anymore.
Beside, Windows Security Center will display a red alert icon in notification area (system tray) which warns users about stop functioning of spyware and other malware protection software.
Install your favorite anti-spyware software to remove this alert, or follow this disable alert hack.
Beside, in Services of Control Panel, the Windows Defender service is automatically stopped, although the Startup Type is still set to Automatic. Do not try to manually stop and disable the Windows Defender service from Services panel, as it will cause the error message of “Application failed to initialized: 0×800106ba. A problem caused this program’s service to stop. To start the service, restart your computer or search Help and Support for how to start a service manually.”
To re-enable (i.e. reinstall) Windows Defender in Vista, run Windows Defender from Start Menu and turn it on again when prompted.
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Entries (RSS)
November 7th, 2009 18:04
This program is destroying my computer. I can’t use Internet Explorer. and it’s constantly popping up alterts. The steps you described about won’t work because i don’t have the option of “Use real time protection (recommended). I had to download another antivirus program to try to get rid of it, but it’s like the computer doesn’t even know it’s there. I’m screwed, aren’t I?
October 25th, 2009 01:47
[...] den noch gefunden http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/02/22/how-to-disable-remove-and-uninstall-windows-defender-in-vis…TS__________Ich bin ein Dschinn.Dieser Beitrag wurde am 24.10.2009 um 19:09 Uhr von TurnRstereO [...]
August 23rd, 2009 18:47
Thank you so very much! Brilliant folks like you who are willing to help the rest of us, we need more of yall!!! You rock!
August 23rd, 2009 15:07
Thanks so much! this helped! I think it was interfering with my other antivirus program, and everything came to a screeching halt!
So thanks again for the great information!
July 29th, 2009 12:52
I booted the computer off of a Ubuntu Live CD, opened program files, deleted Windows Defender. No more errors, no more permission problems. Problem solved.
July 21st, 2009 03:49
If you have problems with WinDefender for VISTA try to download it from MS-website and run it in Windows XP mode… (at your own risk!)
July 1st, 2009 17:19
Hello,
I am having problems with Windows Defender on a brand new laptop. When the machine starts up I receive a message telling me that there is an error. I followed MS advice to uninstall and reinstall BUT its not listed for me to uninstall. As a temp measure I have disabelled it in MSConfig but Id rather have it working.
If I try to install it without uninstalling, the setup tells me it already is included in Vista, and terminates.
How else can I uninstall/reinstall it?
Thanks
June 26th, 2009 11:14
this article is written very passively.
(i mean not to insult but, whomever wrote that is gay)
May 19th, 2009 08:38
you are the best. i have been trying to get rid of that damned program for months!
May 9th, 2009 09:25
bless your heart, thx for the 411
April 7th, 2009 03:15
Don’nt know what windows defender is doing in my pc, i never heard of any spyware detected / cleaned by windows defender.
March 10th, 2009 01:46
Thanks so much for your very clear instructions! Very helpful.
December 1st, 2008 08:34
Great information. Thanks!
CAG
November 5th, 2008 10:12
Why can’t Microsoft understand that users don’t want most of their software and they need to stop force full integration! IE can now be uninstalled and yet Windows Defender, which is worthless, can not. I hope the US and EU start anti-trust suits again!
October 29th, 2008 23:39
[...] security protection status of virus protection and/or spyware and other malware protection (if user disable Windows Defender or switch to AVG for anti-spyware protection) in the [...]
February 25th, 2008 23:06
Is there a way to disable Windows Mail and automatic updates for this?
February 23rd, 2008 17:05
[...] Windows Defender – Without question, Windows Defender is much improved and will be further improved by the days. However, probably a lot of users already depend on much reliable and much user friendly third party anti-spyware such as Spyware Doctor and etc, and do not need another anti-spyware software in the system in duplication. Furthermore, most user will need free anti-virus program, unfortunately Windows Defender is not one. Here’s the guide to disable and uninstall Windows Defender. [...]