Application failed to initialise:0x80070006

[pioneer1963]

My OS is Vista and recently when I have tried to run Windows Defender I am getting the following error - Application failed to initialise:0x80070006. The handle is invalid. I understand that this can be rectified by changing something in the registry which is a lot easier than reinstalling Vista. Anyone any ideas on how I can fix this and give me a step by step guide on how to do it, thanks

[seedy21]

Hi Pioneer1963

 

Windows Defender was replaced with Microsoft Security Essentials so i would just install it instead http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/security-essentials-download

[KenB]

You could check in Services to see if the Windows Defender Service is running.

Start > type in ....services.msc ....ENTER

 

scroll down to check.

 

Seedy has suggested MS Essentials.

If you decide on this you will need to remove any other Anti Virus software that you have on your PC.

MS Essentials will disable Defender as it is no longer needed.

[pioneer1963]

Thanks Seedy / KenB

I've checked in Services but no sign of Windows Defender.

I'd prefer to keep my McAfee Anti Virus software than remove it so dont really want to instal MS Essentials, any further thoughts ?

Thanks

[Starbuck]

You may well find that McAfee has disabled your Windows Defender:

 

if you are using Microsoft Security Essentials, AVG, Norton, Mcafee, Avira etc they disable the vista version of windows defender by default.

Microsoft security essentials has its own version of windows defender and other anti-virus programs use their own particular type of spyware and malware application scanner.