Server 2019 Data Center and Windows Antivirus on Virtual Machines

Dan 1 Reputation point
2022-02-02T20:46:56.38+00:00

Hi Everyone, maybe you can answer this question.
I have Server 2019 Data Center, running Hyper-V.
All my Virtual Machines are Windows 10 or Server 2019, doing
various things, a file server, a DC, ect.
What I have noticed is any virtual machine will not run
Windows Antivirus, it shows real time protection is turned off and it
cannot be turned on. Defender is installed but is greyed out and can only
be uninstalled / installed from PowerShell.
Something about this sounds so familiar, but I just can't remember, or find any info about it.
Can anyone shed any insight on this? Its just the VM's
Thanks in advance!

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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  1. Dave Patrick 426.1K Reputation points MVP
    2022-02-02T23:04:43.077+00:00

    Not sure what you have going there. I just checked on one of my 2019 hosts; a 2019 domain controller, 2019 member server and a windows 10 x64 2004 guest and all have real time protect running.

    --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

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  2. Dan 1 Reputation point
    2022-02-03T15:30:00.85+00:00

    Thanks for Checking your equipment DSPatrick, it really helps to get a comparison.

    Found the problem!, nothing like answering your own question! & sometimes its kind of fun to figure it out.
    Hopefully this will help someone else out.
    I found a few references to my problem of Windows Antivirus not running on Windows 10, and found this:

    Run Regedit

    Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender.

    In that folder, look for a DWORD entry called DisableAntiSpyware.

    Delete the Key or change it from a 1 to a 0

    Then go back into Windows Security, and you will be able to turn it on and update.

    I am not sure how why or how this setting happened on my VM's. I did not have
    any other Antivirus installed from the start, yet the key was there.
    But Glad my AV is running now.

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