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When I right-click on a file in the Windows Explorer to perform an on-demand scan of a single file, the context menu (shown below) presents me with Windows Defender, not Microsoft Defender. My understanding is that this is the legacy Windows antivirus (AV).

My notifications refers to both Windows Defender and Microsoft Defender (shown below). However, Windows Security shows only Microsoft Defender (shown below)

When I actually initiate the on-demand scan, I don't get a modern GUI showing the absence of threats. Instead, a DOS window pops up and says "Signature update started" for the longest time (several minutes) before saying "No threats" (shown below).

Is this in fact the right AV? If not, how do I get rid of it and get the right AV in the file context menu? I am on Windows 10.

enter image description here

Diagnostic efforts

Thank you to DrMoishe Pippik for his prompting.

From Start->Settings->System->About, my OS versions is "Windows 10 Pro", version 21H2, OS build 19044.2604, "Experience" "Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.4190.0". I don't know what those dot numbers refer to, but I update and reboot whenever I am prompted to.

I looked at SFC. It requires DISM, On which I found intro's here and here. After completing the DISM and SFC, the final message was:

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. For online repairs, details are included in the CBS log file located at windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For offline repairs, details are included in the log file provided by the /OFFLOGFILE flag.

Nothing was changed by this, unfortunately, even after a reboot.

user2153235
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  • **What version of Windows**? Have you performed all updates? Used SFC and DISM to check and repair OS errors? – DrMoishe Pippik Feb 19 '23 at 17:44
  • Thanks, DrMoishe Pippik. In response to your question and suggestion, I added the details to the posted question. – user2153235 Feb 20 '23 at 00:55
  • As you stated, that is *not* the normal operation nor appearance of a Windows 10, 21H2 context menu for *Microsoft* Defender. Have you had other antimalware products installed? Consider downloading a stand-alone anti-virus scanner (https://www.geckoandfly.com/9751/free-portable-antivirus-software-microsoft-safety-scanner/) to check for issues (e.g., malware masquerading as AV). Also consider downloading the Windows 10 ISO to USB with the media creation tool, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10, and reinstalling, keeping files. If you do so **make a disk image first**. – DrMoishe Pippik Feb 20 '23 at 01:14
  • OK, thanks again. That would be another weekend excursion for me, and I'll have to find a weekend to do this. In the meantime, it seems that I can invoke on-demand scans on selected files via `Windows Security -> Scan options -> Custom scan`. – user2153235 Feb 20 '23 at 01:47

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