# My Windows Defender Doesn't Start Up Automatically

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-windows-defender-doesnt-start-up-automatically/518729>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 24, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-windows-defender-doesnt-start-up-automatically/518729 "2009-11-24T02:24:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-windows-defender-doesnt-start-up-automatically/518729/1 "2009-11-24T02:24:34Z")

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Untill recently when I rebooted my computer Windows Defender would always start automatically.

Now I noticed that whenever I reboot the computer, it comes up with an icon in the sys tray saying that “Windows Defender has been turned off.” It then asks me if I want to start it. I say OK.

I have AVG latest version and I updated and ran it. No issues. I have Spybot, latest edition, updated, ran it and nothing comes up. I have Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware also latest version, updated, ran it and nothing comes up. I ran Windows Defender scan and nothing comes up.

I went to Windows -\> Tools -\> Options and the “auto start” _ **IS** _ checked, so it should start up automatically.

I just recently upgraded from AVG 8 to AVG 9 and I’m wondering if this may have something to do with it.

Has anyone else had this problem? Anyone have ideas of why Windows Defender isn’t auto starting? Once I start it up, it runs no problem.

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**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-windows-defender-doesnt-start-up-automatically/518729/2 "2009-11-24T03:35:58Z")

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Probably because AVG does its own malware scanning so it disables WD.

[http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.private.security.spyware.appcompat&tid=ca2d6e6a-7214-424f-a4b4-3389f9375f16&cat=en\_US\_8d16db92-299a-4546-afcd-7a2cafe46c6f&lang=en&cr=US&sloc=&p=1](http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.private.security.spyware.appcompat&tid=ca2d6e6a-7214-424f-a4b4-3389f9375f16&cat=en_US_8d16db92-299a-4546-afcd-7a2cafe46c6f&lang=en&cr=US&sloc=&p=1)

Its a rude and bloaty app. I suggest you uninstall it and install Microsoft’s Security Essentials instead.

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-windows-defender-doesnt-start-up-automatically/518729/3 "2009-11-24T06:09:08Z")

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Thanks I’ll uninstall AVG and then see if Defender does start and let people here know

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-windows-defender-doesnt-start-up-automatically/518729/4 "2009-11-25T04:31:48Z")

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Just in case someone else is wondering, that was definately it. If i uninstall AVG 9 then Windows Defender starts automatically. If I reinstall AVG 9.0 (free) then Windows Defender won’t start automatically but will start manually