Windows Defender Error Code: 0x80073afc

Hi Robynn:

I am an engineer in the Windows Defender team. If you could get us some logs, we could investigate the issue and report back any findings on this thread.

• From an elevated command prompt, change directory to “%programfiles%\Windows Defender” (eg: c:\Program Files\Windows Defender)
• In the command prompt, run:       MpCmdRun.exe -GetFiles
• The output in the command prompt will show the path to a cab file. Please share the resultant cab with us by uploading the file to your OneDrive and sharing a link to the file.

Thank you.

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!

Creating CAB file...

Files successfully created in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Support\

MpSupportFiles.cab

please solve my issue

If you are running Windows 8.x and have encountered the subject error with Defender failing to start or run:

There have been quite a few recent posts about this error.

See this Wiki article - http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/wiki/protect\_defender-protect\_start/windows-defender-error-code-0x80073afc/29365ebc-5986-4408-a728-0600f41991b3?tm=1435026367942

Nothing definitive as to a cause or a solution, but some users have reported that a System Restore resolved the problem. Others reported that it did not help.

Alternatively, though it may be painful. you may wish to consider --

Restore, reset, refresh Windows 8: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc -- this may actually be the quickest solution if you don't have lots of installed programs to reinstall.

-steve

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.

hi, there is no windows defender icon on the control panel, is there anything else I could do?

also, how do i check if there is a 3rd party anti virus?

thanks, Thomas

TIP: Following instructions or recommendations posted for someone else's computer can have disastrous results. Always begin your own, new thread to avoid confusion.

Have you EVER run the Norton Removal Tool and/or the McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool?

I was just stating that the steps you had mentioned we're things I had already done when I received my laptop, I uninstalled both of the antivirus programs that we're pre loaded as they we're trying to compete with each other and couldn't install Microsoft or hp updates and drivers until I in installed both. I obviously couldn't of read your message and traveled back in time lol.