Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
3 Posts
0
2224
XPS 8930, flashing cursor, unable to open Windows Defender
This is a new XPS 8930, Windows 10 Pro. Computer boots normally & cursor acts normally.
If I go into Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security and click on any of the Windows Defender lines the cursor starts a high frequency flashing between the cursor arrow and the hourglass. That continues until I reboot. Windows Defender does not start.
I've checked for Windows updates and have executed the Dell Update app that resulted in a BIOS update, a Qualcomm driver update and one other update I don't remember.
The computer seems to be operating normally other than I can't execute Windows Defender and the flashing cursor is totally distracting.
Any suggestions?
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
•
44.3K Posts
0
August 25th, 2018 16:00
Do you have some other antiviral app installed? Dell typically installs McAfee on new systems, possibly as a 30(?)-day free trial or maybe as a 12- or 15-month subscription. McAfee will disable Windows Defender because you don't want both running at the same time.
If you have McAfee now but prefer WD, register the McAfee software at their site just to be safe. Then use McAfee's tools to uninstall the software. That should automatically enable WD. By registering at the McAfee site first, you will preserve your right to download and reinstall McAfee if your system came with a paid subscription and you decide to use it before the subscription expires.
Tomkk
3 Posts
0
August 25th, 2018 17:00
Thanks for the reply, that's exactly what I did. I frankly don't know whether I had a flashing cursor before I uninstalled McAfee because I didn't have occasion to click on WD before that. The flashing I see now is with McAfee not installed.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
17K Posts
0
August 25th, 2018 22:00
Sounds like your Windows might be corrupt (or didn't get setup properly to begin with). Try these DISM and SFC commands .
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-update-problem/m-p/6133631/highlight/true#M4951
speedstep
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
August 26th, 2018 01:00
mcafee / norton is like cancer and will require a clean install of windows to fix this.
This is also why both companies have a remover utility to try and fix AFTER IT MESSES UP AND DOESNT uninstall.
Tomkk
3 Posts
0
August 26th, 2018 04:00
OK, I tried Diamond's suggestions. Neither DISM nor SFC detected any problems. Thanks for the suggestions, tho.
I should have thought of the McAfee removal tool. I ran that and the problem disappeared, so it looks like I'm OK.
Thanks to you both ...
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
•
44.3K Posts
0
August 26th, 2018 10:00
If you mentioned having already uninstalled McAfee at the beginning, I would have recommended McAfee's removal tool in my first response to you. :Wink:
Glad you got it sorted...