windows defender

teenee60

Keep geting a message saying ;windows defender user interface has stopped working.
i have tried re installing it from another pc,cant get to it to ask for updates.
cant uninstall to start again.
Also,are these 3 problems related? the windows vista home premium product key you typed is invalid for activation; to activate windows you will need to use the automated phone system.
no attatchment s from emails download either.
i have recently had my laptop formatted due to a nasty worm.
ANY help appreciated.

macman

Your Vista product key is not being recognised as valid. This then blocks certain Microsoft updates, including Windows Defender. The correct product key should be on the sticker on the base of your laptop. You can use the phone system as advised to re-activate Vista.
Defender should then update OK.

teenee60

will try that again this evening,last time i tried that it said wrong/or invalid,so i phoned the guy who did it(formatted ),he said it accepted it when he did it.

[Deleted User]

Have you tried activating it over the phone as it requests?

teenee60

no.........i was a bit suspicious,
but thinking about it,nothing could happen over the phone.
blushing now....

macman

If your repair guy activated it then it shouldn't be asking for it again. Try it via the phone process and if still problems refer it back to him to sort out.

teenee60

I have phoned the automated service,left laptop running,no probs for that now,phew!
But still windows defender not working properly.I dont know how to remove it, to try reinstall.
I have tried taking the files for WD off my sons laptop,and putting them on to mine,hoping that they would overwrite,that idea didnt work.
so i still cant download anything and save it.
any clue?????

macman

But have you had Vista successfully reactivated? If not, your Windows Updates won't work, including Defender. You can't copy them off another machine.
If the program has corrupted, you can uninstall it in Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs, and download it again from microsoft.com and reinstall. But it won't let you do this until Vista is activated.

teenee60

o.k. successfully activated vista.
gone to control panel>add/remove programs, it is not listed.
if i click start>all programs it is in the list.
in c;program files it is there.open it and file folder=en-us
content are 15 files 6 of which =0kb(mpclient.dll,mpcmdrun.exe,mp?OAV.dll,mprtPlug.dll,mpsig.Dwn.dll,mpsvc.dll) if that is relavent i dont know!

macman

Is there an uninstall option on the Start Menu (Windows Defender>Uninstall?)? I don't understand why it is not appearing under add/remove programs. I suspect this is because it is built into Vista and it doesn't want you to delete it.
Have you tried running Windows Update, because this should now update everything including Defender?

teenee60

Hi macman,running a update now,just silverlight & office live add in.pc set to auto update daily anyway,looked in update history,and no mention of WD,but severel for vista itself.
still not in add/remove programs.
pulling my hair out now........