Windows Defender is working, but can't be opened.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ray_SM
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Ray_SM

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Greetings,


In the 'Windows Security' tab, all of the services (I.e. 'Virus & Threat Protection', 'Device performance & health', etcI click on will produce the following result:


- No reaction, no new window opens or changes.

- The cursor looks like its loading something.

- On task manager, the app 'Antimalware Service Executable' CPU usage goes up to 20%ish.


1. In the event that my antivirus 'MalwareBytes' is turned on, it'll be the app that consumes high CPU usage.

2. If I turn it off, it'll the aforementioned executable that does it, and I have to restart my computer.

3. Every attempt at opening any of the Defender related services will increase the CPU usage, after 4 times the CPU usage surged to 70%, and still no window opens.


Further details:

1. I know the Defender is active and working, it detects viruses and threats just fine:

- I experimented with downloading a file I know the defender will detect as a virus from my other laptop, and a grey window in the bottom right pops up, informing me that a threat was detected. (If I try to click on this pop-up, the same thing happens.

2. This is a new PC, and Windows 10 Home was just installed on it.

3. This issue began immediately after I first started Windows, and persisted after I installed MalwareBytes.

4. I used the SFC tool, it found corrupt files and replaced them all successfully.

5. I restarted the machine, clean boot, safe mode, multiple times - nothing helps.

6. In 'Services', right clicking the entry 'Security center' shows only grey options: I can't restart or stop it.


As things stand, I can't access any of Defender's services, and if I do, my only option is to restart the PC.


Note: Everything else in the PC is working just fine, save for the mouse cursor 'jumping' every now and then (but this is a more pressing issue).


I'll appreciate any advise, thanks in advance.

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