Windows Defender Error

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I’m trying to schedule the Defender to scan daily on my 8.1.1 and it is failing to start. I receive this message:

The system cannot find the file specified. (0x80070002)

Can someone shed some light on this for me, please?

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See if Windows Defender Automatic Updates, Scheduled Scans helps.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Doesn’t Windows Defender run a daily quick scan by default anyway?

Bruce

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Doesn’t Windows Defender run a daily quick scan by default anyway?

Yes, but only a quick scan.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Updates come through fine, but Defender wasn’t scanning daily so I followed the instructions posted here to set up the daily quick scan, but the above is the error I am receiving and I can’t figure out what is not programed right; hence my question.

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That error code is associated with missing or corrupt files.

Have you checked that the path statement in the Task Scheduler Action tab is correct?

Have you tried running sfc /scannow from an elevated command prompt?

Have you looked at the task History tab?

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Checked all and couldn’t find anything. How about deleting it and starting all over? Is this ok to do?

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The program entry in the task scheduler has to be in quotes if the path contains any spaces.

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Checked all and couldn’t find anything. How about deleting it and starting all over? Is this ok to do?

Yes, that’s fine. I’ve done that more than once in getting a task setup to run the way I wanted. Don’t delete the default quick scan task, just your own entry.

Follow the steps in the post I linked. Use “Browse” when filling in the “Program/script” textbox, and the path will be input correctly.

Did you run sfc /scannow?

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Yes, nothing happened. I did however delete the default scan task.

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Will Windows Defender run a manual scan?

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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yes, I can run a scan on demand

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Have you tried re-creating your task for a scan in Task Scheduler?

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Will try it later and let you know how it goes.

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Created task for update and scan, both worked. Thanks for hanging in with me.

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Created task for update and scan, both worked. Thanks for hanging in with me.

My pleasure. Glad you got it sorted out.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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