Windows Defender not running, error: Service cannot be started either because it is disabled or it has no enabled devices associated with it.

Question

Original title: Windows Defender cannot be started because it is disabled

I restored my PC from a System Image in Windows 7 and then upgraded it to Windows 8 and then to Windows 8.1.

All is working fine except for Windows Defender.

When I try to start it I get the message that it cannot be started because it is disabled.

I tried to enable the service via the services.msc in Administrator mode but all the fields are greyed out. The dependencies (RPC) are all running correctly. See the images below.

How can I repair it and get it back to work without a clean install?

Answer 1

Hi,

The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

This could be due to disabled by a Virus or Malware. I suggest you try the method below.

Method 1:

Please follow the steps to check the result:

1. Press Windows key on the keyboard  type Notepad in the Start Search box, and then click Notepad in the Programs list.
2. Copy the following text, and then paste the text into Notepad:

sc config wuauserv start= auto

sc config bits start= auto

sc config DcomLaunch start= auto

net stop wuauserv

net start wuauserv

net stop bits

net start bits

net start DcomLaunch

Click File, click Save As, and then type Repair.bat.

3.In the Save as type box, click All Files (*.*).

4.In the Save in box, click Desktop, and then click Save.

5.On the File menu, click Exit.

6.Right -click the Repair.bat file that you saved in step 5, and then click Run as administrator. This action starts the required services. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

Method 2: Uninstall  Anti-virus. 

I would suggest you to uninstall  if you have any third-party antivirus installed on the computer.

Important Note: Antivirus software can help protect your computer against viruses and other security threats. In most cases, you shouldn't disable your antivirus software. If you have to temporarily disable it to install other software, you should re-enable it as soon as you're done. If you're connected to the Internet or a network while your antivirus software is disabled, your computer is vulnerable to attacks.

Note : If you uninstall antivirus, install it after you upgrade the operating system.

Method 3: Microsoft Safety Scanner 

I would suggest you to run the Microsoft safety scanner.

The Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free downloadable security tool that provides on-demand scanning and helps remove viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. It works with your existing antivirus software.

Run a full computer scan with the Microsoft Safety Scanner to make sure that the computer is virus free.

Microsoft Safety Scanner

Note: Any data files that are infected may only be cleaned by deleting the file entirely, which means there is a potential for data loss.

Let us know if you need further assistance. We will be glad to help you further.

______________

Thanks & Regards,

Isha Soni

Answer 2

Thanks muchly, I have been struggling with this for hours.

Your little .bat file will allow me to sleep to-night.

Answer 3

Thanks Isha.

I executed the commands one by one in an elevated CMD. As you can see, it failed on the third command (Dcom).

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sc config wuauserv start= auto

[SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sc config bits start= auto

[SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sc config DcomLaunch start= auto

[SC] OpenService FAILED 5:

Access is denied.

There is no anti-virus software installed.

I also downloaded and executed Msert. The PC is clean:

Where do we go from here?

Thanks, ALUTP

Answer 4

same problem:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sc config wuauserv start= auto

[SC] ChangeServiceConfig CORRECTO

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sc config bits start= auto

[SC] ChangeServiceConfig CORRECTO

C:\WINDOWS\system32>sc config DcomLaunch start= auto

[SC] OpenService ERROR 5:

Acceso denegado.