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
    2016-08-04T21:04:58+00:00

    This answer is about nine months after my question. Of course, I resolved the problem long ago. I simply uninstalled Defender and am relying on the Bit Defender that is now included with IObit's Malware Fighter. Everything is great now.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-08-04T23:04:56+00:00

    And how did you uninstall Defender?

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-08-05T07:01:45+00:00

    My Laptop is trying to install an update on Windows Defender but cannot get beyond 2nd step of 37 steps  and just hangs there.

    I checked Windows Defender and get a message---  Service could n`t start Group or Resource not in correct state to perform the requested operation. Everytime I shut down my laptop I get the message -- Do not switch off updates are being installed and so it goes on...

    How can I fix Windows Defender?

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-08-05T16:13:45+00:00

    AVG works just fine with 8.1. I have the free one and have never had a virus.

    I was told that Windows Defender is not intended to work if you have another antivirus program installed.

    b

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