Windows Defender Error Code: 0x80073afc

Anonymous
2015-03-23T22:21:12+00:00

Hi, I receive this error code when i try to open Windows Defender and it says: An error as occurred, in the program during initialization. If this problem continues, please contact your system administrator. Error code 0x80073afc. And in the Action Center it says that Windows Defender is turned off.

Please help!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Security and privacy

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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  1. Anonymous
    2015-10-22T20:39:51+00:00

    when I open control panel and tried clicking windows's defender, it does not respond .. then i run rstrui.exe it starts restore backup  ... it fine thanks for help

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-03-24T23:31:02+00:00

    To answer your questions:

    1. I have McAfee installed but it's not activated.
    2. I am the administrator to the computer
    3. I have made no changes prior to the issue.

    I also followed the steps to turn on Windows Defender but I can't find it in the Control Panel.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-03-24T23:27:03+00:00

    I tired all of them but it hasn't worked.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-03-24T23:17:14+00:00

    Has a  Norton application or a McAfee application EVER been installed on the computer since you bought it?

    Did a Norton free-trial or a McAfee free-trial [pick one] come preinstalled on the computer when you bought it? (Doesn't matter if you never used or Activated it.)

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-03-24T13:23:07+00:00

    Hi Robynn,

    Thank you for posting your question in Microsoft Community.

    You seem to have an issue with running Windows Defender on your computer. We will assist you in fixing the issue. Please answer the following questions to help me understand the issue better:

    1. Did you use any other 3^rd^ party antivirus application on your computer?
    2. Are you administrator of the computer?
    3. Did you make any changes to the computer prior to this issue?

    Some 3rd party antivirus programs may turn off Windows Defender when they are installed to be used instead, and will not allow Windows Defender to be turned back on until the 3rd party antivirus has been uninstalled or disabled.

    Refer to these steps to turn on Windows Defender:

    1. Press Windows and X keys together.
    2. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Windows Defender icon.
    3. In Windows Defender, click/tap on the Settings tab, Administrators in left pane, uncheck the Turn on Windows Defender box, and on Save Changes.

    Reference links for more information:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/mse-protect\_start/an-error-has-occurred-in-the-program-during/6b838264-b590-4309-85f9-def16c597c31

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/mse-protect\_updating/microsoft-security-client-error-0x80073b01/1118f1c2-34e3-48f4-af57-3e066bcfa227

    Hope this helps you. Please do let us know if you need further help.

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