How to Technically Neuter Windows Defender
Typical of many Microsoft Windows products, people clamber at the opportunity to down load and test their newly acquired trophies. This is not intended to be critical of mentioned personalities, considering I possess the same masochistic gene that drives us to try new software. Especially, if offering is free, which Windows Defender is… Within Windows Vista, Defender installed by default, and many people are searching frantically for methods to safely disable, uninstall or remove it from their systems. It’s not attributed to Defenders failure, however, more in line with better alternatives. Besides, Defender is free, nevertheless, there are better alternatives for the same price.

Within Microsoft Windows XP, Defender can easily be removed using standard Control Panel software installation procedures, however, Vista is slightly more cumbersome. In essence, it ain’t leaving willfully, and your options are slightly limited to permanently disabling it, which in effect, accomplishes same objective. To the best of my limited knowledge, there are three ways to neuter Defender and discourage it from automatically launching during system boot process.

Method 1:

1. Go to Start > Run and type services.msc
2. Look for Windows Defender name and double click to bring up the properties window
3. Click “Stop” button to stop Windows Defender services and set the Startup type “Disabled”

Method 2:

1. Go to Start > Run and type msconfig
2. Go to Startup tab and uncheck Windows Defender displayed at Startup Item

Note of Interest:

• If you only disable Windows Defender from Services, however, did not disable Windows Defender at MSCONFIG, you’ll get the error message “Application failed to initialized: 0×800106ba. A problem caused this program’s service to stop. To start the service, restart your computer or search Help and Support for how to start a service manually.”

Method 3:

1. Run Windows Defender
2. Click Tools and go to Options
3. Scroll to the bottom of the window and look for “Use Windows Defender”
4. Uncheck “Use Windows Defender” and it shall be disabled