Windows Defender in Windows 8.1 Will Not Turn On

Anonymous
2013-11-24T01:31:23+00:00

I recently updated Windows 8 to Windows 8.1.  Windows Defender had been on in Windows 8 and even after the update to 8.1.  I turned it off momentarily but have been unable to turn it back on.  To my knowledge, I have no other anti-virus programs running.  How can I turn it back on?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Security and privacy

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-02-28T11:02:48+00:00

    From the Wiki I linked in my post just before yours:

    18. Where are the WD desktop and tray icons?

    Windows Defender can be found on the Start screen, All Apps.  If you really want a Desktop icon, do the following:

    Use the charms, and search for Defender.  Alternatively, go to the Start Screen, right-click, and select All Apps. Under the Windows System group, you will find Windows Defender.

    Once you have found Windows Defender, right-click on it and select Open File Location.  There you will find a shortcut to Windows Defender.  Copy the shortcut, and paste it on your Desktop.

    There is no tray icon with WD on W8.  The Action Center icon reports WD issues.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-27T15:25:26+00:00

    Hello,

    I am running win 8.1

    I see that Windows Defender is running but I do not see in the system tray at the right most corner bottom of my screen.

    Does anyone know how I can include the win defender icon in the system tray?

    Thanks,

    Peter

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-27T11:18:46+00:00

    I am running windows 8.1 and the defender is turned off, I have gone to Action center and I do not find any way to turn Defender on??

    http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/21967-windows-defender-protection-turn-off-windows-8-a.html

    Windows Defender on Windows 8 - Introduction and Frequently Asked Questions

    -steve

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-11-29T22:27:52+00:00

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-11-29T18:02:09+00:00

    Thanks.

    Yes the laptop had Norton Antivirus on it when I bought it. I knew I wanted to used Defender so uninstalled it immediately and I did use a software removal tool.

    But Defender still would not turn on.

    This was when I installed Lavasoft as I have used it for a long time on my old laptop which was an XP and I was happy with it.

    But as I said I installed Windows 8.1 and then Lavasoft wouldn't work any more. I uninstalled it but didn't use the removal tool that time.

    It looks like I should try one more time with removal tools for both Norton and the Lavasoft, using your links

    I will see what happens, and if I still cannot turn Defender on, then it is going to have to be something else to use to protect my laptop.

    Thanks for all the other links. They are very good, and thanks for responding.

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