Windows Defender

[muff13]

Recently I had to have a new hard drive for my laptop running Vista. Prior to this I am sure that Windows Defender was permanently running and turned on but this does not appear to be the case now. Every time I boot up I have to turn it on. Please can anyone advise me (in simple language) how to enable this program to start every time I boot up the laptop.
Thanks in anticipation.

[VHG]

Have you installed Microsoft Security Essentials by any chance, as Windows Defender is part of that.

If you install MSE it turns off the individual Defnder product (it has its own "Defender" built in)

http://answers.micros...0d5-8b3c-8db063089d97

[muff13]

No I have not installed MSE.

[VHG]

Have you put any other security software on, as that may have turned it off.

[muff13]

I have AVG free but that should not turn it off surely as that is just an anti virus.

[galeck1947]

Get rid of AVG and install Avast Free Antivirus and it will allow you to have Windows Defender to run in the background without any issues.

[muff13]

Does AVG prevent it from running in the background? I must confess that I had Avast installed before I had a new hard drive.

[muff13]

I have now removed AVG and installed Microsoft Security Essentials so should not have a problem any more. Thanks for advice.