How to disable Windows Defender from starting when Vista boots

by Ross McKillop on February 15, 2007

Windows

Perhaps you prefer to use Ad-Aware and/or Spybot to keep your PC spyware-free. Perhaps you want to free up some system resources. Perhaps you just want to know how..

  1. Click the Start button (orb?), select All Programs, then Accessories and finally Run

  2. Type in msconfig and click OK

  3. Click Continue when Vista’s security warning appears

  4. Select the Startup tab and remove the check from the box labeled Windows Defender. Click OK.


    5. click to enlarge

  5. Restart your PC when prompted

  6. And from now on when Vista boots, Windows Defender will no longer run (use the Task Manager to check)


    7. click to enlarge

Related Posts:
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  • How to disable the system sounds in Windows XP
  • How to disable the system sounds in Windows Vista

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    { 13 comments… read them below or add one }

    1 help 02.23.07 at 4:42 pm

    But how do you disable Windows Defender if you are running Windows XP?

    Please show the steps.

    2 Reply to help 03.28.07 at 10:07 am

    Follow the same steps in XP, or uninstall it.

    3 Xan 04.08.07 at 6:36 am

    do you mind if I post this on some anti-spyware sites as they will need to disable windows defender for HijackThis fixes?
    Great guide by the way!

    4 Lonnie 08.22.07 at 11:53 am

    Hi
    Just wanted to know when I type misconfig, I get a error saying no such word.
    What do I do now.
    Lonnie
    lrw1206@yahoo.com

    5 pete 08.25.07 at 6:21 pm

    misconfig is the incorrect spelling and key combination. instead you must type msconfig

    6 Ross McKillop 08.25.07 at 6:39 pm

    Thanks pete!

    I emailed Lonnie w/ the same info and never heard back - I’m assuming he got it fixed. Cheers!

    Ross

    7 Scotti 11.15.07 at 1:51 am

    Anyone any idea how to remove Defender completely in Vista? Would like to get rid of a few of the pre-installed vista software but none of them are listed in the ‘add/remove programs’

    Thanks

    Scotti

    8 Dan 02.29.08 at 5:24 pm

    I have done that before [unchecking the “Windows Defender” but still runs at startup!

    9 peter 03.18.08 at 1:46 pm

    likewise as dan i have disabled but it still starts up on reboot!can anyone email me if they know how to get rid of this problem or git rid of defender all together it conflicts with my other programs and blocks things i didnt say to block (then i have to right click and manually start them under the run blocked programs selection everytime i reboot.

    10 Julio 03.20.08 at 5:32 am

    These instructions are crap. It still runs and sometimes even gives an error that Defender could not initialize… Dam… How do you get rid of it COMPLETELY!

    11 Arun 03.20.08 at 2:02 pm

    Make sure you also disable the Windows Defender service in services.msc. Type services.msc in the search bar.

    12 Kalaboso 04.02.08 at 6:01 pm

    If you wanna disable windows defender in any windows version. FORMAT

    13 Jedidiah 07.22.08 at 7:59 am

    Ok. I FORMATTED, and it’s not DISABLED. Thanks for the tip!!!

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