Windows Defender 8.1

[Marnie]

I have desktop running 8.1 64bit . My Windows Defender is deactivated. How do I re-start it.? Everything I have looked at has taken me around in circles. Is there an easy way to do this, please?

[Bryan]

Depends if you have another antivirus running. You can check this in "Control Panel/Windows Defender". If there is another antivirus running, there is no need for Defender. But, others on this site are not too enthused over Defender these days.

[Speedy Gonzales]

If you didnt install something else when you try to start it, are there any errors?

[Marnie]

Thanks Bryan and Speedy. Just to clarify, I had uninstalled Trend Micro after an update, because it slowed my pc down so much that it was becoming impossible to use it. I then installed AVG and it was around this time Windows Defender suddenly deactivated. I hadn't even noticed it happening but my husband was watching and pointed it out.

I did run a scan in case there was something other than Trend Micro causing the incredible slowness.

[Bryan]

I think you will find that by installing AGV, that has disabled Defender.

[nmercer]

choose 1, don't use both AVG and Windows Defender

[Speedy Gonzales]

I would avoid AVG it causes too many probs.

I would stick with defender and uninstall AVG then use their removal tool. To remove the rest of it. Do the same with Trendmicro

One reason I dont install any 3rd party program. It'll either slow the system down (MSE can slow a system down too). Crash the system, delete valid files and screw windows up totally

[Marnie]

Thanks all.

It has been many years since I used AVG; that was the first one that came to mind when I wanted to completely change from Trend Micro that had come with this computer. It had seemed fine until their update.
Any suggestions/recommendations for a different antivirus? Paid or free versions.

[Speedy Gonzales]

I think a lot of people liked AVG. I've never used it

But one of their updates detected audio files as malware deleted it / them, then put it in its vault.

And it killed your sound. People then realised that they had no sound and that the service for the sound has stopped. And it wasnt that easy to restart it.

If you didnt know how to fix it

[Bryan]

Eset's Nod32 in my opinion is the only way to go. It does cost for a three year licence and Wainui Tech can supply it or Chillisoft in Auckland.