Startup Problem

gracious1224

New user - when starting computer (win 10) after about 5+ minutes the security widget pops up red with a services not started message (don't remember exact wording), then after a few more minutes the widget turns green. During the start up lapse before widget turns green am I unprotected? Does Windows Defender kick in during this time? Any idea on a fix? Tks for any suggestions.

Also as an aside - I tried to send an email to support, but it always gave me an error that captcha was invalid even though I went through the process of choosing the correct items and received a green check mark in the captcha box. Any ideas on that?

Flexx

https://community.bitdefender.com/en/discussion/104771/startup-problem

Bitdefender Startup Delay

The issue you're experiencing with the Bitdefender widget showing red and a "services not started" message for a few minutes after startup is a known, though not universal, phenomenon. It's often related to how modern operating systems, like Windows 10 or Windows 11, handle startup processes to improve boot times.

Am I unprotected during this time?

The short answer is no, you are not unprotected. While the visual widget might show a red status, the core protection services of Bitdefender are designed to start much earlier in the boot process.

This is due to a Windows security feature called Early Launch Anti-Malware (ELAM). ELAM allows antimalware software to start its core services and drivers before most other components of the operating system have loaded. This prevents malware from launching before your security software has a chance to block it. The delay you're seeing is typically for the graphical user interface (GUI) and other non-essential modules to load.

Does Windows Defender kick in?

In most cases, no. When a third-party antimalware program like Bitdefender is installed, Windows Defender Antivirus is automatically disabled to avoid conflicts and performance issues. This means that during the few minutes that Bitdefender GUI is still loading, Windows Defender is not active. Your system is being protected by Bitdefender underlying services, even though the widget isn't reflecting it yet.

Any idea on a fix?

While this is often considered normal behavior, there are a few things you can try to improve the startup time of the Bitdefender services:

• Make sure your Windows and Bitdefender are up to date: Ensure you have the latest updates for both your Windows 10 or Windows 11 operating system and your Bitdefender security product. Updates often include performance improvements and bug fixes.
• Repair your Bitdefender product: Sometimes, a corrupted installation can cause delays. You can check the stated link for more information ( https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/13429/ )
• Disable other startup programs: Too many programs trying to launch at the same time can slow down the entire startup process. You can use the following link ( https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configure-startup-applications-in-windows-115a420a-0bff-4a6f-90e0-1934c844e473 ) to check and disable the programs that you do not want to start with Windows boot.

Regarding Bitdefender support, kindly follow the process outlined below.

Kindly contact Bitdefender support by visiting https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/help/

Select, How to's & Troubleshooting Bitdefender products→Troubleshooting→I don't know→Contact Support→ You will get the option of chat, call or email.

To get an immediate update, kindly use the chat option. Also, ensure that no ad blockers or privacy extensions are enabled in your web browser, as they may prevent the chat window from appearing.

Bitdefender support may request diagnostic logs and will guide you through the process of generating them.

Regards