WINDOWS DEFENDER

[Jeffrey]

I recently purchased a new computer with W7 preloaded. I am unable to activate Windows Defender even  in Administrator mode.

I have downloaded Malawarebytes but understood that Windows Defender would and shoud work in parallel.

Can anyone help?

[patio]

This May Help

NOTE: As with all protection apps only run 1 scan at any one time...

[Jeffrey]

It's not a question of running 2 scans at once. I  can't INSTALL/ACTIVATE Windows Defender program. When I click on the Windows Defender "Install" button, nothing happens!

[Allan]

Fact is, you're not losing anything by not being able to use Windows Defender. Personally, I disable it on every system I use.

[Broni]

I agree. More, or less, worthless.

[2x3i5x]

get Microsoft Security Essentials if you want. It's a significant upgrade over windows defender.

and perhaps windows defender is already pre-installed on windows 7 so you are wasting your time trying to install an already installed software.

[Broni]

Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Defender are two different tools and MSE is not any kind of Windows Defender upgrade.
MSE is an AV program and WD is an antimalware tool.

Then:

Q: Is Microsoft Security Essentials designed to replace Windows Defender?

A: No but if you are running Microsoft Security Essentials, you do not need to run Windows Defender. Microsoft Security Essentials is designed to disable Windows Defender in order to manage the PC’s real-time protection, including anti-virus, rootkits, Trojans and spyware.

 
Q: Does installing Microsoft Security Essentials disable Windows Defender
A: Microsoft Security Essentials should disable Windows Defender on Vista and Windows 7 and uninstall it from XP. In some cases, this does not happen automatically.

Q: Do I need to manually disable or uninstall Windows Defender if I am using Microsoft Security Essentials?
A: If Microsoft Security Essentials did not automatically disable Windows Defender on Vista or Windows 7, you should disable it to prevent conflicts. Windows Defender cannot be uninstalled from Vista or Windows 7.
If Microsoft Security Essentials did not automatically uninstall Windows Defender on XP, you should manually uninstall Windows Defender via Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs.

Q: What happens if I do not disable or uninstall Windows Defender if I am using Microsoft Security Essentials?
A: If Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Defender are both running, your system may experience performance degradation and other problems caused by the conflict of two services providing real time protection simultaneously.

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/msestart/thread/5309cb8d-02e1-40e8-974f-0dcedb9ab9fd

[2x3i5x]

If you say MSE is an AV program and WD is an antimalware tool.

Then why I see this:

What about Windows Defender? Windows Defender is for spyware protection only.  MSE is full anti-malware protection (spyware, virus, Trojans, worms, root kits). So, there is no need for Defender.  On XP, MSE should uninstall Defender. If not, you can uninstall it.  On Vista and Windows 7, MSE should disable Defender. If not, you should disable it.

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/msestart/thread/bf757e6a-e320-4a67-92bc-767e6acb26c4

So that looks like MSE already has the capabilities of windows defender included.

[Broni]

Still, it's not an upgrade.
One product is being replaced by another product, which includes features from the product #1.

[2x3i5x]

Still, it's not an upgrade.
One product is being replaced by another product, which includes features from the product #1.

sure. I probably should have said "replacement" no "upgrade". Still given that both MSE and WD are free I think MSE is bit better on the fact it's got a bit more to it. 

Anyway, I guess this thread took a long enough turn.... for whatever it's worth 

[2x3i5x]

hopefully OP (Jeffrey) got his problem solved to his satisfaction.