#Requires -Version 5.1 <# JbTecWiz Support Centre -- generated fix script Fault : Microsoft Defender will not turn on Fix : Remove the previous product's registration completely Source: https://jbtecwiz.com/support/win-sec-defender-off Run as : Elevated PowerShell Expect : 30 minutes Risk : medium Reversible : yes WHEN THIS IS THE RIGHT FIX Another antivirus has been installed and removed. HOW TO UNDO IT Reinstalling the third-party product restores its registration. This script walks the fix one step at a time and asks before each one. Steps with no command are things you do yourself -- it prints those and waits. Run with -DryRun to print without executing. -------------------------------------------------------------------- NO WARRANTY - USE AT YOUR OWN RISK This script is provided by JbTecWiz as-is and with no warranty of any kind, express or implied. You run it entirely at your own risk. JbTecWiz accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from its use, including but not limited to data loss, downtime, or configuration changes that turn out to be wrong for your system. You are responsible for reading this script before running it, for satisfying yourself that it suits the machine in front of you, and for having a working backup first. Some steps cannot be undone. -------------------------------------------------------------------- #> [CmdletBinding()] param( # Print every step and command without running anything. [switch]$DryRun, # Do not ask before each step. Read the script first if you use this. [switch]$Unattended ) $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop' $script:Failed = 0 function Write-Rule { param([string]$Text) Write-Host '' Write-Host ('-' * 70) -ForegroundColor DarkGray if ($Text) { Write-Host $Text -ForegroundColor Cyan } } function Show-Prose { param([string]$Text, [string]$Colour = "Gray") if (-not $Text) { return } $words = $Text -split "\s+"; $line = " " foreach ($w in $words) { if (($line.Length + $w.Length) -gt 74) { Write-Host $line -ForegroundColor $Colour; $line = " " } $line += "$w " } if ($line.Trim()) { Write-Host $line -ForegroundColor $Colour } } function Invoke-Step { param( [int]$Number, [string]$Do, [string]$Why, [scriptblock]$Command, [switch]$Manual, [string]$Shell = "powershell" ) Write-Rule " Step $Number of 5" Show-Prose $Do "White" if ($Why) { Write-Host ""; Show-Prose $Why "DarkGray" } if ($Manual) { Write-Host '' Write-Host ' -> Do this yourself, then press Enter to carry on.' -ForegroundColor Yellow if (-not $Unattended -and -not $DryRun) { [void](Read-Host) } return } Write-Host '' foreach ($l in ($Command.ToString().Trim() -split "`n")) { Write-Host (" " + $l.Trim()) -ForegroundColor Green } Write-Host '' if ($DryRun) { Write-Host " (dry run -- not executed)" -ForegroundColor DarkGray; return } if (-not $Unattended) { $a = Read-Host " Run this step? [Y]es / [S]kip / [Q]uit" if ($a -match "^[Qq]") { Write-Host " Stopped at your request."; exit 0 } if ($a -match "^[Ss]") { Write-Host " Skipped." -ForegroundColor DarkGray; return } } try { & $Command } catch { $script:Failed++ Write-Host (" Step $Number failed: " + $_.Exception.Message) -ForegroundColor Red Show-Prose "The rest of the fix may depend on this. Read the write-up before carrying on." "Red" if (-not $Unattended) { $c = Read-Host " Carry on anyway? [y/N]" if ($c -notmatch "^[Yy]") { exit 1 } } } } Write-Rule Write-Host ' Microsoft Defender will not turn on' -ForegroundColor White Write-Host ' Remove the previous product''s registration completely' -ForegroundColor Cyan Write-Host '' Write-Host ' Risk: medium Reversible 30 minutes' Write-Host '' Show-Prose 'No warranty. Use at your own risk - JbTecWiz accepts no liability. Read it before you run it, and have a backup.' 'DarkYellow' Write-Rule if (-not $Unattended -and -not $DryRun) { $go = Read-Host ' Ready? [y/N]' if ($go -notmatch "^[Yy]") { Write-Host " Nothing was changed."; exit 0 } } Invoke-Step -Number 1 -Do 'See what the Security Centre still believes is installed.' -Why 'Defender stands down while another product is registered here. If the old product is listed but no longer installed, Defender will stay off no matter what is clicked in Settings.' -Command { Get-CimInstance -Namespace root\SecurityCenter2 -ClassName AntiVirusProduct | Format-List displayName,productState,pathToSignedProductExe } Invoke-Step -Number 2 -Do 'Run the vendor''s own removal tool. Every major antivirus publishes one, and it removes the filter drivers and registrations a normal uninstall leaves behind.' -Manual Invoke-Step -Number 3 -Do 'Restart, then check the registration list again -- the stale entry should be gone.' -Manual Invoke-Step -Number 4 -Do 'Start Defender''s services.' -Command { Set-Service WinDefend -StartupType Automatic -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue Start-Service WinDefend Start-Service SecurityHealthService } Invoke-Step -Number 5 -Do 'Update the definitions, which will be months old.' -Command { Update-MpSignature } Write-Rule " Confirm it worked" Show-Prose 'Real-time protection is on and the definitions are current.' 'White' Write-Host '' if (-not $DryRun) { Get-MpComputerStatus | Format-List AMServiceEnabled,RealTimeProtectionEnabled,AntivirusSignatureLastUpdated,AMRunningMode } Write-Rule if ($script:Failed -gt 0) { Write-Host (" Finished with " + $script:Failed + " failed step(s).") -ForegroundColor Yellow Show-Prose 'Read the full write-up at https://jbtecwiz.com/support/win-sec-defender-off' 'Yellow' } else { Write-Host ' Finished.' -ForegroundColor Green } Write-Host '' Show-Prose 'To undo: Reinstalling the third-party product restores its registration.' 'DarkGray' Write-Rule