very frustrated with my $1,000 new touch screen computer due to windows 8. i download win8.1 from play store looking for a easier os so could enjoy my new computer. but i have a problem windows defender will not turn on!!!! i tried all community posted things and replies from microsoft. when i press start it gives this error message:[ERROR 577 windows can not digital verify signture for this file ]etc.... come on guys i never had problems win 98xp i loved useing my computer everyday. it was simple to understand and find the fix for the regular guy. now i HATE Using my NEW COMPUTER DUE TO WIN8 and WINDOWS 8.1 i thought would make things better. i wish i could put win98 or win7 on this computer so i can enjoy my purchase. anyone know how to get Win8.1 win defender to work??? or want to buy a $1,000 hp i7 with 2 tb 8 gb paper weight? <Moved from Windows>

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/protect_defender-protect_start/windows-defender-not-working-after-upgrade-to/51ff2e69-b7e7-46da-84c9-392bf040ef1e In the above thread we have seen that OP had same problem as yours and he tried some editing of registry that we normally do not recommend but it worked for him. You may want to give it a try. All you have to do is to: Press Win key + R. This will open Run. Type "regedit" and hit enter. Navigate to these keys: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender 4. Change value of 'DisableAntiSpyware' and 'DisableAntiVirus' from '0' to '1'. 5. After changing the values go to 'C:\Program Files\Windows Defender' and open 'MSASCui.exe' file. Hope this will fix the problem.

Second day with win 8.1 not loving it, windows defender error 577 - the registry keys mentioned in earlier post were not in the path given, no perms to change even though I am admin, did clean boot, still error 577. I read 8.1 was supposed to be more secure, it seems as fragile as ever. I see no further helpful responses from microsoft here. Burned again.

I had a lot of trouble with this but I was able TO FIX THIS PROBLEM!!!!!! I did a clean boot, this did not seem to help things. The registry keys mentioned were already set to 1, starting the service gave 577 error, could not bring up the windows defender ui. Today I did the following: Uninstalled Comcast provided "Constant Protection" Uninstalled Spybot Search and Destroy (-reboot after each uninstall) win key + x, accessed the action center. I received warnings I had no protection and win defender was also off. I tried to start from here - this launched the Windows Defender GUI! I had hope... Windows Defender would not start - I got this bogus error to click for more help but that was just a popup telling me why I should use windows Defender. Decided to re- check the registry keys and services.mmc (Win key + x, run "services.mmc") - I was shocked to find the windows defender service was now running however when I ran regedit and located the keys I found they were no set to 0 and I received an error when trying to change them to 1 and save. Registry Path here: (Win key + X -> run -> regedit) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS DEFENDER To gain permissions to edit the registry: a) right click on "WINDOWS DEFENDER" and select Permissions b) click Advanced c) click Add d) click the hyperlink "Select a principal" e) click Advanced f) Find Now g) Locate your user and select (******@outlook.com) h) Okay I) Okay j) You should be back on the "Permissions Entry for Windows Defender" and your account should be shown after "Principal:"; now select the check box for "Full Control" k) select okay - now your back on Advanced Security Settings for Windows Defender - with your account selected make sure you click "Enable inheritance" - this will change to Disable inheritance. l) okay m) okay n) now edit the keys "DisableAntiSpyware" DisableAntiVirus" and set value to 1 o) close registry editor At this point, I again tried to enable Windows Defender using the enable button in the UI but now I just got no response. I rebooted, accessed Windows Defender and found it running! I updated and started scanning. No expert - and this may not be the best way - but it worked for me. Hope this helps.

error 577 when i attempt to turn on windows defender win8.1

Anonymous

very frustrated with my $1,000 new touch screen computer due to windows 8. i download win8.1 from play store looking for a easier os so could enjoy my new computer. but i have a problem windows defender will not turn on!!!! i tried all community posted things and replies from microsoft. when i press start it gives this error message:[ERROR 577 windows can not digital verify signture for this file ]etc.... come on guys i never had problems win 98xp i loved useing my computer everyday. it was simple to understand and find the fix for the regular guy. now i HATE Using my NEW COMPUTER DUE TO WIN8 and WINDOWS 8.1 i thought would make things better. i wish i could put win98 or win7 on this computer so i can enjoy my purchase. anyone know how to get Win8.1 win defender to work??? or want to buy a $1,000 hp i7 with 2 tb 8 gb paper weight?

<Moved from Windows>

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/protect_defender-protect_start/windows-defender-not-working-after-upgrade-to/51ff2e69-b7e7-46da-84c9-392bf040ef1e

In the above thread we have seen that OP had same problem as yours and he tried some editing of registry that we normally do not recommend but it worked for him. You may want to give it a try. All you have to do is to:

Press Win key + R. This will open Run.
Type "regedit" and hit enter.
Navigate to these keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender 4. Change value of 'DisableAntiSpyware' and 'DisableAntiVirus' from '0' to '1'. 5. After changing the values go to 'C:\Program Files\Windows Defender' and open 'MSASCui.exe' file.

Hope this will fix the problem.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

This error seems to be of Windows rather than of Windows Defender. Please post a question in Windows 8.1 forum, they can help better.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

I have seen some more cases like this and I think the problem is specific with Windows Defender only. I want you to try this:

Turn off Windows Defender by going to Settings --> Administrator and unchecking "Turn on this app" and clicking "Save Changes". After turning off Windows Defender, open Registry Editor (in Start menu search for regedit.exe and open it). After opening Registry Editor, navigate to this registry key:

KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services and change values of 'Start' and 'Type' entries according to the following:

WdBoot -->

Start: 0

Type: 1

WdFilter -->

Start: 0

Type: 2

WdNisDrv -->

Start: 2

Type: 1

WdNisSvc -->

Start: 2

Type: 16

WinDefend -->

Start: 2

Type: 16

Example:

Note: Incorrect editing of registry can cause serious damage to system. And you are doing edits in very sensitive area of registry. So be very careful. If you didn't understand anything then stop and ask it. I will explain in simpler words.

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159 additional answers

Anonymous

2014-04-27T21:11:20+00:00

Second day with win 8.1 not loving it, windows defender error 577 - the registry keys mentioned in earlier post were not in the path given, no perms to change even though I am admin, did clean boot, still error 577. I read 8.1 was supposed to be more secure, it seems as fragile as ever. I see no further helpful responses from microsoft here. Burned again.
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Anonymous

2014-04-30T02:10:09+00:00
I had a lot of trouble with this but I was able TO FIX THIS PROBLEM!!!!!!

I did a clean boot, this did not seem to help things. The registry keys mentioned were already set to 1, starting the service gave 577 error, could not bring up the windows defender ui.

Today I did the following:
1. Uninstalled Comcast provided "Constant Protection"
2. Uninstalled Spybot Search and Destroy
(-reboot after each uninstall)
1. win key + x, accessed the action center. I received warnings I had no protection and win defender was also off. I tried to start from here - this launched the Windows Defender GUI! I had hope... Windows Defender would not start - I got this bogus error to click for more help but that was just a popup telling me why I should use windows Defender.
2. Decided to re- check the registry keys and services.mmc (Win key + x, run "services.mmc") - I was shocked to find the windows defender service was now running however when I ran regedit and located the keys I found they were no set to 0 and I received an error when trying to change them to 1 and save. Registry Path here: (Win key + X -> run -> regedit)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS DEFENDER
1. To gain permissions to edit the registry:
a) right click on "WINDOWS DEFENDER" and select Permissions

b) click Advanced

c) click Add

d) click the hyperlink "Select a principal"

e) click Advanced

f) Find Now

g) Locate your user and select (******@outlook.com)

h) Okay

I) Okay

j) You should be back on the "Permissions Entry for Windows Defender" and your account should be shown after "Principal:"; now select the check box for "Full Control"

k) select okay - now your back on Advanced Security Settings for Windows Defender - with your account selected make sure you click "Enable inheritance" - this will change to Disable inheritance.

l) okay

m) okay

n) now edit the keys "DisableAntiSpyware" DisableAntiVirus" and set value to 1

o) close registry editor
1. At this point, I again tried to enable Windows Defender using the enable button in the UI but now I just got no response. I rebooted, accessed Windows Defender and found it running! I updated and started scanning.
No expert - and this may not be the best way - but it worked for me. Hope this helps.
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