How can I recover my Windows Security Center and W-Defender? (W10)
Hello,
I sent this message to Windows Help Center as well, because I have no idea which is at fault.
My issue has been here for at least a week, and went as follows:
- downloaded viruses
- launched several scans with W(indows)D(efender): found 1 adware, then nothing, then 1 malware, then nothing again
- wanted a more thourough, deep search; so installed B(it)D(efender) as an extra help
- with it, did 1 system scan which found around 20ish issues (mostly malwares)
- did another deep scan, plus a quick scan and found nothing more
- uninstalled BD to avoid antiviruses clashing one against the other
- rebooted my computer
- got a screen reading my "Antivirus actions were being completed", then few seconds later it told me it was, and went on with the usual W password screen.
- wanted to use Windows Defender to do the thourough, offline scan that reboots my computer
- no WD icon on bottom right of my taskbar?
- tried to get to WD through W Security Center, but it's gone
- since then, haven't ever seen the WD again, nor have had my WSC back
- reinstalled BD as I had no AV nor FW anymore
- did several things after having met this issue, including (I did all of that 7 days+ ago so non-exhaustive): checking in services, rebooting, using CMD, downloading WD through W store (but it's a paid for version), checked for W updates (none were found)
After reinstalling BD, I did some more deep scans, no issues were found. It did want me to install a "Windows Security update" though, and considered staying the way i was a "Grave threat". So I clicked yes (all i wanted was to get it back anyways), but went nowhere else than that as it simply made the sofware crash, only for it to never talk about this update ever again.
Did another BD scan two days later and found few more issues that all got solved (aka disposed of).
I've been using BD for a week and found no more issue with scans, but no WSC update either, whether I checked through BD or the W update service.
I had used BD alongside WD for years on my previous computer and never went through this issue, which I find astonishingly grave. It's literaly the first time I went through this, and couldn't get back the way i was even with the help of a cybersecurity student I know.
TLDR; BitDefender helped me get rid of malwares, but also wiped my entire Windows Security Center and Windows Defender in the process, which currently forces me to pay to have a firewall. Would like to recover both my WSC and WD but none of what I tried and found online worked.
Thanks for hearing me out. I don't think this is the right thread but I didn't find any that fit my issue.
Regards,
Wise.
Best Answer
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Kindly perform below steps & see if this helps you in anyway.
1) Uninstall the bitdefender product with add/ remove programs option in windows
2) To remove the remaining files download and run Bitdefender product uninstaller (https://www.bitdefender.com/files/KnowledgeBase/file/Bitdefender_2022_Uninstall_Tool.exe)
3) Restart PC in safe mode (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-in-windows-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234)
4) As soon as desktop opens, assuming your windows drive is C, open below things in run (windows icon + R) command one by one :
C:\Program Files (delete any folder with name bitdefender)
C:\Program Files (x86) (delete any folder with name bitdefender)
C:\ProgramData (delete any folder with name bitdefender)
C:\Users\{your pc name}\AppData\Local (delete any folder with name bitdefender)
5) Open run command again and run below command one by one :
temp ,delete all the files in the folder
%temp% ,delete all the files in folder
prefetch ,delete all the files in folder
6) Open registry editor through run command (windows icon + R) and then type regedit. Once registry editor opens, click on edit -> find, make sure to tick mark match whole strings only. Type bitdefender in search box and click find next. If any file or folder under name of bitdefender is found, delete it. Continue searching the registry and deleting until the search will report no registry keys found.
7) Restart your PC in general mode by unticking the option that you selected to run the system in safe mode and then click apply.
If the issue still persists and windows defender is still not enabled, kindly follow the below steps provided by microsoft in the below stated link
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/intune/user-help/turn-on-defender-windows
If this also does not helps, kindly post your query in microsoft community forum in the below stated link
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us
Regards
OMEN Laptop 15-en1037AX (Bitdefender Total Security) & Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Bitdefender Mobile Security)
1
Answers
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Oops, I forgot.
Trying to get to the WSC opens this tab.
(Windows Security)
(Security in the blink of an eye | Display the integrity and security states of your device, and take the necessary actions.)
(Settings ↓)
Only Security providers (↓) and Notifications tabs are here, nothing on the left.
"Aucun fournisseur" translates to "No provider" (even though Bitdefender is on).
Thank you for reading so far.
Wise
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Hello,
First thank you for your quick and thourough answer. Greatly appreciated. :)
I meticulously did all the cache steps but it did not change my issue. Windows Defender is still nowhere to be seen and my Security Center is still wiped out.
I couldn't follow Microsoft links as they require Windows 10 Pro, while I have Family. :). I also have no answer from Microsoft after the message I sent them. I love Microsoft. :)
Thanks for your help nonetheless!
Nina.
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Hello @Wisedred,
Would it be possible for you to open a ticket with our Support Teams so they can have a closer look and advise accordingly? You can use the below link and simply select the e-mail channel, follow the steps to fill in the contact form and you will be given a ticket number. Please provide me with this ticket number via PM. Your request will reach our technical support teams and they will get back to you shortly.
Thank you.
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