Virus & Threat Protection Is always loading In Windows Security !!

Hi Charan,

You may be having a problem with one of the three Services, that are required for

Microsoft Defender to function.

Open your Services App and scroll down to Security Center. It should be running

and set for Automatic (delayed start).

Microsoft Defender Antivirus Service should be running and set for Automatic start.

Windows Security Service should be running and set for Manual start.

If any of these are not present or are not running, please reply.

Enter your Registry by clicking "Start" and type "regedit". On the Registry Editor screen,

navigate through the following branch,  *Hkey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft*

and select Windows Defender.  Compare yours to this screenshot. Please describe any

sub-keys that may be missing in your Windows Defender, and any differences in any of

the REG_Dword values.

After noting the differences, exit the Registry by retracing the steps used to navigate in.

At HKLM, click "File" then "Exit".

Good luck,  Glen

Hi Charan,

EDIT: Would you please download a free copy of MalwareBytes, and run a full

scan. Set it to "Scan for Rootkits".  If it finds anything, please record what is in its

Detection History. I would like to know what malware it is that is doing this. Thanks!

End Edit:

I'm sorry that I missed your description of the Windows Defender Key, before.

It indicates that your only remedy for this problem, will be a Repair Upgrade.

The sub-keys that are missing are necessary for Defender to function, and

Repair Upgrade is the only way that I know to retrieve them.

Repair Upgrade replaces your W10 OS, but retains you Apps & Files. Your PC remains

as it is, but without the obvious damage that is now present.

Repair Upgrade is a very stable procedure if your PC configuration is HDD only, or SSD

only. The combination of the two can be problematic, rarely. If that is your configuration,

you should create a system backup before proceeding.

To perform a Repair Upgrade, download the Creation Tool from this location.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Right click the download and select "Run as Administrator".   Choose "Upgrade this PC

now". The procedure will begin.  Answer the questions logically, and when asked "What to

Keep", ensure that both the OS and Apps & Files are selected.

The procedure will run for about an hour, and your PC will restart several times.

Sometimes it appears to be doing nothing. Be patient. When it is finished, your "sign in"

screen will appear. Your W10 OS will be repaired, and Defender should function fine.

Any questions, please reply.

Good luck,  Glen

Hi Charan,

The Service Windows Security Service, otherwise known as SecurityHealthService,

may affect both of the other two services.

Please enter the Registry as before, but this time select "As an Administrator".

Navigate to the following branch. Hkey_Local_Machine\System\CurrentControlSet and

expand Services.     Scroll down to SecurityHealthService and select it.

In the right pane find the sub-key "Start". Its Dword value should = 3. If it is set for any

other value, Modify it to 3.  Do that by right clicking its name, (Start) and choose "Modify".

Type 3 and click OK.   Exit the Registry as you did before. And Restart your PC.

Return to the Services App, "As an Administrator", and start both Security Center and

Microsoft Defender Antivirus Service if they are not running. Establish their Start

parameters as previously described. If either proclaims "access denied", turn off Tamper

Protection temporarily, in Virus & Threat Protection Settings, and try to start them again.

Close the Services App, and Restart your PC.

Test your Microsoft Defender.

Good luck,  Glen