Windows Defender annoyance

[pentium4forever]

Anybody know why in the world Microsoft doesn't let you remove Windows Defender from your system in Windows 7? (i think vista too, i've used the 7 rc much more than vista, )

I know you can disable the service in services.msc and uncheck the box for it in msconfig, did the latter. I just wish I could remove the darn thing in add/remove programs/windows features.

[subset]

msiexec /uninstall windowsdefender.msi /quiet /log uninstall.log
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555957/en-us/

I haven't tried it.

Cheers

[luc]

Originally Posted by subset

msiexec /uninstall windowsdefender.msi /quiet /log uninstall.log
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555957/en-us/

I haven't tried it.

Cheers

That instruction is applicable for XP systems only, not Vista! I don't think it is applicable for Win7 either.

[subset]

Originally Posted by luc

That instruction is applicable for XP systems only, not Vista! I don't think it is applicable for Win7 either.

From the MS site...

APPLIES TO

* Windows Vista Ultimate
* Windows Vista Home Premium
* Windows Vista Enterprise
* Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
* Microsoft Windows XP Professional
* Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2

I just tried it with Windows 7. After a restart the Windows Defender service was set to automatic but did not start.

However, as you can disable the Windows Defender and the service anyway, i don't think there is really a need to remove any files.

Cheers

[luc]

Originally Posted by subset

msiexec /uninstall windowsdefender.msi /quiet /log uninstall.log
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555957/en-us/

I haven't tried it.

Cheers

Hi subset,

Please look at the Note immediately follows the instruction which you got from the link you provided. Did I misunderstand it?

/luc

[stapp]

The way I read it luc the uninstall instructions are for xp only when Defender is unable to be uninstalled in xp for some reason......

Unable to Uninstall Windows Defender in XP:

This issue happens due to corrupted DLL library. To resolve this error, download and run the Microsoft Installer Cleanup Utility. Download it from the following link:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301/

You can also try uninstalling the Windows Defender program by running the uninstall command option from Run.

Click Start, Type Run, and type the following:

msiexec /uninstall windowsdefender.msi /quiet /log uninstall.log

NOTE: This method only works in Windows XP and is not applicable for Windows Vista.

However as subset says you can disable it anyway in vista. Also installing Microsoft Security Essentials automatically disables Defender.

[subset]

Originally Posted by luc

Please look at the Note immediately follows the instruction which you got from the link you provided. Did I misunderstand it?

Nope, I have overlooked that.
But strangewise it works even with 7 somehow, as the service does not start afterwards.
But I don't think this method can be recommended.

Best thing is probably just to disable it from within the GUI via Administrator options.

Cheers

[Randy_Bell]

Originally Posted by subset

Best thing is probably just to disable it from within the GUI via Administrator options.Cheers

I think that was a really bad decision by MS to 'integrate' WD into the O.S. of Vista {and I guess Win7 from what you guys are saying} without including a way for users to uninstall it if they do not want it on their system: another example of "Big Brother" imposing his will on consumers who should be 'free' to install or uninstall whatever programs {including security programs} they want to run on their system.

On my wife's new computer running Vista Home Premium (x64), the Windows Defender (WD) interfered with her antivirus {CA Antivirus Plus 2009}, I think because her AV also had an antiispyware (AS) component. WD caused a false report to the Windows Security Center, it was popping up and saying her AV was turned off when it really was on - and when I clicked the "Turn it On" button in Windows Security Center, nothing happened, it was reported as still turned off! - Meanwhile, a visit to her CA Security Center revealed an "all green" status with everything running normally, even though MS Security Center was reporting the AV as "turned off" -- and when I disabled WD the problem went away, so I KNOW it was caused by WD.

Another "brilliant" move by MS was that darn User Account Control (UAC) which treats YOU the user like a common user even when you are logged in as the Administrator. Very irritating, its constant interruptions and asking permissions for perfectly innocent programs you want to launch, etc. -- Oh Yeh, it also interferes with ERUNT, a popular utility for doing backups and restores of your Registry. ERUNT won't backup or restore properly until you disable UAC.

Now I ask you, which is a more 'secure' situation, one in which you have big brother UAC 'protecting' you and demanding permission for everything, and screwing up totally valid and helpful programs like ERUNT; or one in which you can backup and restore your Registry without interference? The Registry is THE most vital core component of Windows {all versions including XP, Vista, and Win7}; and if your Registry gets screwed up or corrupted, things like UAC won't save you! But a utility like ERUNT can!

In fact, ERUNT can run from Safe Mode if need be, and folks I have experienced a situation in recent past where my Registry got so screwed up that System Restore service wasn't even running! System Restore wasn't available to "bail me out", but the little ERUNT utility was! Saved me from a reformat and reinstall of windows, not to mention having to reinstall ALL my precious software and restore all my custom settings, etc., which I had accumulated on this WinXP computer for quite a few years!

Now I say "bah humbug" to Big Brother, give us (users) back the control over our OWN computers which we rightly deserve! Quit trying to protect us from ourselves! If WE get infected or mess up OUR system, then the responsibility is placed squarely upon US. But give US the freedom and rights over the hardware and software systems that WE purchase with OUR own money! Let's start a revolution to free ourselves of MS Shackles, - let's launch a "Boston Tea Party" type of Consumer Revolt against Big Brother or Redmond Giant or Evil Empire {whatever we want to call him}, and regain control of our own systems! Rant over, 'nuff said ..

[stapp]

Wow .... Looks like you never paused for breath there, made it VERY difficult to read. Try some paragraphs

If someone is using Windows Vista or 7, the task scheduler should be used instead of the startup folder for autobackups, this will avoid the UAC blocked program popup at startup.

Taken from here

h**p://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=24996&st=40&p=152629&#entry152 629

[Randy_Bell]

Originally Posted by stapp

Wow .... Looks like you never paused for breath there, made it VERY difficult to read. Try some paragraphs

Edited, is it better? Sorry I just been very annoyed at WD and UAC!

Added when I noticed this:

If someone is using Windows Vista or 7, the task scheduler should be used instead of the startup folder for autobackups, this will avoid the UAC blocked program popup at startup.

Nope stapp, that won't work, the problem is that ERUNT will not run properly when UAC is active. Look at the link I made to the Author's Site, he states it himself: disable UAC in order to run ERUNT in Vista. I also experienced the same when I tried ERUNT with UAC enabled, it simply will not work. Edit: Whoops, it is in the FAQ at ERUNT Site:

Question: Do ERUNT and NTREGOPT run on Windows Vista?
Answer: Yes. To make sure the programs are executed with proper administrative privileges, you should however turn off User Account Control in Vista’s system settings.