Trying (unsuccessfully) to repair Windows Security. Anyone kindly help me?

I have been trying to repair the Windows Security app for some months now (on and off!), following advice in threads I find online, but with no success. When I open the app, all I get it a black window with the app shield logo in the middle.. Has anyone any suggestions? This is what I have done:

In Settings, I tried to repair and then, when that didn't help, reset the app (got a 'tick' next to the options after a little while, so I assume it all worked), but still when I open Windows Security all I get is that black window with the app logo .. nothing happens.

I had also tried the same via Powershell, with this, by the way:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.SecHealthUI | Reset-AppxPackage

Then I tried to reinstall and re-register Windows Security via Command Prompt (as admin.):
C:\>PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.SecHealthUI).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}"

This ran, producing this:
Add-AppxPackage : Cannot find path 'C:\AppxManifest.xml' because it does not exist.
At line:1 char:104
+ ... fest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manife ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (C:\AppxManifest.xml:String) [Add-AppxPackage], ItemNotFoundException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : PathNotFound,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageManager.Commands.AddAppxPackageCommand

I tried SFC, running Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool first. Unfortunately, DISM stops at about 58% with "system cannot find the path specified". Just one failure after another!! I attach the DISM log.

I ran scannow /sfc anyway, in spite of DISM failing to complete - no problems were reported. Of course, after a reboot, Windows Security is still as before.

About ready to admit defeat!!

Thanks.

Have you tried?

@martinlest


Here's ten points, just for filling out your computer specs.


I would just do an In-Place Upgrade (repair install).
It fixes Windows problems and you won't lose anything.

Use Option Two, ISO method...

I second what Ghot said, except to add one other point. There is a possibility the repair install will fail, dependent on the corruptive state of your system. I would certainly either image the system or manually back up personal files just in case a reset or reinstall becomes necessary.

I've had good success with Settings -Recovery - Fix problems using Windows Update (Reinstall now). Takes a little time but easiest to do.

I often have Defender open in a black window on my desktop PC having dual monitors using an RTX 2060 Super GPU. The issue clears if I log off/on again. I reckon its a display bug and just put up with it until MS fixes it if they ever do.

I was interested in the advice to do a repair install using both methods. I recently had a problem with computer freezes and tried a repair install (fix problems using Windows Update), which didn't fix the problem. Next, I downloaded the ISO, ran it and the problem was fixed. Does the ISO method work differently from the Settings method and does it do other things that Settings doesn't? Might have a bearing on the OP problem?

Mitch said:

I was interested in the advice to do a repair install using both methods. I recently had a problem with computer freezes and tried a repair install (fix problems using Windows Update), which didn't fix the problem. Next, I downloaded the ISO, ran it and the problem was fixed. Does the ISO method work differently from the Settings method and does it do other things that Settings doesn't? Might have a bearing on the OP problem?

Click to expand...

The way I see it...

Via Windows Update, relies on the internet connection and the WU server.

Via the ISO... downloading the ISO requires internet connection, using that ISO as the source for un-corrupted files is completely LOCAL. Less things to go wrong when using the ISO method.

Thank you for the replies folks...

To be honest, I have had supposedly 'safe' procedures go wrong on me in the past, resulting in an O/S I couldn't access or, at best, changes I had not looked for. So a non-functioning Windows Security app is not really an issue disastrous enough for me to take the risk of reinstalling the o/s in any way at all. I have Bitdefender installed now, so I am not without some kind of protection.

Some answers to some of the points above;

Have you tried?
Code:
Get-AppPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI

Just tried. I get this as a response (PowerShell/Admin). What does it mean and what do I do now?

Name : Microsoft.SecHealthUI
Publisher : CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US
Architecture : X64
ResourceId :
Version : 1000.25873.9001.0
PackageFullName : Microsoft.SecHealthUI_1000.25873.9001.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
InstallLocation : C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.SecHealthUI_1000.25873.9001.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
IsFramework : False
PackageFamilyName : Microsoft.SecHealthUI_8wekyb3d8bbwe
PublisherId : 8wekyb3d8bbwe
IsResourcePackage : False
IsBundle : False
IsDevelopmentMode : False
NonRemovable : True
Dependencies : {Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00_14.0.33519.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe,
Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.7_7.2409.9001.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe}
IsPartiallyStaged : False
SignatureKind : Store
Status : Ok

Click to expand...

I used to have AVG installed, but removed it using Revo Unisntaller. Even though there are no traces left of the programme, since removing it I have had this present issue with Windows Security. Removing Bitdefender wouldn't help, since I installed it weeks after WS stopped working, just to have some security cover. The firewall part of Windows Security seems to be working just fine.

In summary - I don't think I have the 'nerve' to reinstall Windows in any form, just to fix this secific issue. If I can't get it working in the way I have been trying, I may just give up on it, as I say. Sorry to be a bit of a coward, but I have leaned through bitter experience that in this particular sphere, if anything can go wrong for me, it probably will!

Thanks once again.

Your Security Center app is behind in app version (1000.27840.0.1000). Visit this MS page, and download the setup app:
Windows Security app update

When you run the setup, you won't see any visual confirmation. Restart Windows, and check the version again.

I get this as a response (PowerShell/Admin). What does it mean and what do I do now?

Click to expand...

Oh, I see now. Yes, will download the setup.

Now up to date, but no change with Windows Security. Every time I think I have found something else to try - such as running Win dows Health via scripts in Terminal, that process itself fails ('Can't find file specified' or some such thing). So even the repair tasks themselves end up failing, and so of course repair nothing.

Think I am getting to the end of my patience with this: as I say, I have been trying for months now. I can probably manage OK without Windows Security and stick with BitDefender.