Uninstall Windows Defender (Vista Ultimate)

I am running Windows Vista Ultimate and Microsoft Defender is installed by
default. I want to uninstall it but it doesn't even show up in the Programs &
Features list (Uninstall or change a program window). How do I go about to
fully uninstall that program.

thank you

I don’t believe you can. I know you can disable it. Just go into the
options and disable everything.

-----Original Message-----
From: AlohaMahalo [private.php?do=newpm&u=]
Posted At: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 6:19 PM
Posted To: microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
Conversation: Uninstall Windows Defender (Vista Ultimate)
Subject: Uninstall Windows Defender (Vista Ultimate)

I am running Windows Vista Ultimate and Microsoft Defender is installed by
default. I want to uninstall it but it doesn't even show up in the
Programs &
Features list (Uninstall or change a program window). How do I go about to
fully uninstall that program.

thank you

=?Utf-8?B?QWxvaGFNYWhhbG8=?= <>
wrote in news:0843BC1C-1462-4138-A80F-:

> I am running Windows Vista Ultimate and Microsoft Defender is
> installed by default. I want to uninstall it but it doesn't even show
> up in the Programs & Features list (Uninstall or change a program
> window). How do I go about to fully uninstall that program.

You can't. It's an integrated part of the operating system, not a
separate application. What you *can* do is to disable it:

"Turn Windows Defender on or off"
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...bf0dc1033.mspx

Hi,

You can't uninstall it, you can only disable it. Run msconfig from the
start/search line, check the startup tab.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"AlohaMahalo" <> wrote in message
news:0843BC1C-1462-4138-A80F-...
>I am running Windows Vista Ultimate and Microsoft Defender is installed by
> default. I want to uninstall it but it doesn't even show up in the
> Programs &
> Features list (Uninstall or change a program window). How do I go about to
> fully uninstall that program.
>
> thank you

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:37:13 -0400, "Rick Rogers" <>
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>You can't uninstall it, you can only disable it. Run msconfig from the
>start/search line, check the startup tab.

I think a much better - and possibly more permanent - way is to
disable it in Administrative Tools/Services.

Accomplishes the same thing.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Nonny" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:37:13 -0400, "Rick Rogers" <>
> wrote:
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>You can't uninstall it, you can only disable it. Run msconfig from the
>>start/search line, check the startup tab.
>
> I think a much better - and possibly more permanent - way is to
> disable it in Administrative Tools/Services.

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:13:38 -0400, "Rick Rogers" <>
wrote:

>Accomplishes the same thing.

Permanently?

Thank you everyone. I am a little bit shocked to hear that you "cannot"
uninstall an application that used to be opitonal and now is forced into your
os.

"Rick Rogers" wrote:

> Accomplishes the same thing.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>
> "Nonny" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> > On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:37:13 -0400, "Rick Rogers" <>
> > wrote:
> >
> >>Hi,
> >>
> >>You can't uninstall it, you can only disable it. Run msconfig from the
> >>start/search line, check the startup tab.
> >
> > I think a much better - and possibly more permanent - way is to
> > disable it in Administrative Tools/Services.
>
>

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:29:01 -0700, AlohaMahalo
<> wrote:

>Thank you everyone. I am a little bit shocked to hear that you "cannot"
>uninstall an application that used to be opitonal and now is forced into your
>os.

But you're not forced to keep it running so quit whining.


>"Rick Rogers" wrote:
>
>> Accomplishes the same thing.
>>
>> --
>> Best of Luck,
>>
>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>>
>> "Nonny" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>> > On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:37:13 -0400, "Rick Rogers" <>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >>Hi,
>> >>
>> >>You can't uninstall it, you can only disable it. Run msconfig from the
>> >>start/search line, check the startup tab.
>> >
>> > I think a much better - and possibly more permanent - way is to
>> > disable it in Administrative Tools/Services.
>>
>>

Hi,

It's deeply embedded into the OS in order to exact the control it needs to
perform its function. As stated, you can disable it, though that's not
generally recommended unless you have a third party tool to scan for and
remove malware. Once disabled, it has no more affect on the system than if
it were uninstalled.

Just a curious note to add to this as well: If you had it installed under XP
and upgraded to Vista, the uninstall function from XP is carried over and
you can remove it, but then you'll find that you can't reinstall it later
either.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"AlohaMahalo" <> wrote in message
news:F25057EF-566D-4617-8310-...
> Thank you everyone. I am a little bit shocked to hear that you "cannot"
> uninstall an application that used to be opitonal and now is forced into
> your
> os.
>
> "Rick Rogers" wrote:
>
>> Accomplishes the same thing.
>>
>> --
>> Best of Luck,
>>
>> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>> My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
>>
>> "Nonny" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>> > On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:37:13 -0400, "Rick Rogers" <>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >>Hi,
>> >>
>> >>You can't uninstall it, you can only disable it. Run msconfig from the
>> >>start/search line, check the startup tab.
>> >
>> > I think a much better - and possibly more permanent - way is to
>> > disable it in Administrative Tools/Services.
>>
>>