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
    2015-05-20T00:26:14+00:00

    Hi,

    I thought the problem was resolved with the systems restore but now I'm getting the same error message again.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-05-20T01:42:43+00:00

    I've not had any interaction with the antimalware, Defender, or MSE team members in quite some time. I'll see if I can poke and get some possible direction.

    -steve

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-05-24T18:43:55+00:00

    I thought the problem was resolved with the systems restore but now I'm getting the same error message again.

    I'm sorry to hear that, Robynn.

    • When did it start again? Was it with the new and current antimalware client version or engine recently installed?
    • Is it the same error code 0x80073afc alone, or...?
    • Any recent Windows update (included with past May Tuesday Patch or otherwise) you might identify as suspicious to be related to the issue?

    Would ask you to please do not do a system restore this time (just yet) but run a SFC instead. Then, upload your logs to your OneDrive public folder and post here a link to it so we can take a look at it.

    Please note that this issue has been escalated to MS Antimalware Team, so please provide as much details as you can about it and keep us posted/stay tuned to this thread.

    Thanks in advance. Your feedback is very important to our Community.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-06-02T20:10:15+00:00

    Hi,

    Please log on to the answers website to check the private message that I have sent you and provide us the details in the private message itself.

    You can view the private message section by 

    1. Clicking the red link above your post

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    Thank You.

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-06-02T20:10:36+00:00

    Hi,

    Please log on to the answers website to check the private message that I have sent you and provide us the details in the private message itself.

    You can view the private message section by 

    1. Clicking the red link above your post

    Or 

    1. Clicking on link.

    Thank You.

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