Correct Windows Defender error codes on Vista
By Jonathan Schlaffer
Those with Windows XP have the option to install Windows Defender; those that have Vista installed already have Windows Defender. The short history of Windows Defender goes back a few years when Microsoft decided to acquire Giant AntiSpyware. Beta 1 and Beta 2 of Windows Defender were just rehashes of Giant AntiSpyware.
By all counts Giant AntiSpyware was an excellent spyware scanner and remover but something happened between Beta 2 and the final release that just ruined the whole thing. For one the interface is now much simpler and you can’t even select more advanced options that were available in Giant AntiSpyware.
Windows Defender was designed with the average home user in mind so Microsoft probably figured it was best to yank out the more advanced features but left some so it is possible to tweak the program but not to the extent that Giant allowed.
At least Microsoft is starting to acknowledge its security problems more openly but they still have a long way to go. Windows Defender is probably the least effective anti-spware protection on the market, it is free and it is integrated into Vista which makes it better than nothing except when it decides it isn’t going to download and install updates.
Some users of Vista have been experiencing Windows Defender Error code 0×80240029 “The program can’t check for definition updates.” Isn’t that just lovely? It took me about an hour (give or take) of searching to find the right answer. As fate would have it, this means the SoftwareDistribution folder is corrupted, couldn’t they just have an error that says what it means or would that be too simple?
For this specific Windows Defender error running on Vista ONLY you will need to change a system file folder in Safe Mode. If you are unsure about doing any of that even with these instructions please seek out the help of a professional or local neighborhood computer genius.
According to the Microsoft article KB934562 you will need to boot into safe mode first, simply press F8 repeatedly or hold it down before you see the Vista boot screen. Then click the start button and type %windir% in the search box and then press Enter. Locate the SoftwareDistribution folder, right click it and rename it to SoftwareDistribution.old, press Enter again and reboot your PC normally.
Windows Defender should now be willing to fetch and install any updates it has missed.
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Read more entries by Jonathan Schlaffer.
April 14th, 2007
We have a similar problem where Windows Update stops working. No need to go into Safe Mode though. A simple restart and renaming or deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder in the Windows directory has always fixed the problem.
April 14th, 2007
Good to know. I’m guessing that was on XP… Don’t know if Vista would allow that under a normal account, it’s more touchy about those things.
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