Windows Security, action required but not allowed

k0065126 · Apr 29, 2023

When I open the Windows Security page to sort out whatever problems Windows has detected I see that Virus and threat protection, Account protection, Firewall and network protection, App & browser control, and Device security are all shown as unknown.

When I click on Virus and threat protection I am unable to perform a Quick or Full scan as the button is greyed out.

Firewall & network protection shows that Microsoft Defender Firewall is using settings that may make my device unsafe. The Restore Settings button is greyed out.

I have no idea how, or when, this changed to prevent me running virus scans, or doing a few other things relating to security.

Does anyone have any idea what I can do to restore security to the state it should be in. I tried switching the computer off and then on again after a short wait, but this has not had any effect.

I am running Windows 11 Home, version 22H2 with Windows Experience Pack 1000.22641.1000.0, whatever that is. I always install updates when they are available.

Viv

FreeBooter · Apr 29, 2023

Are you using any other third-party antivirus program?

BrianInEngland · Apr 29, 2023

k0065126 said:
When I open the Windows Security page to sort out whatever problems Windows has detected I see that Virus and threat protection, Account protection, Firewall and network protection, App & browser control, and Device security are all shown as unknown.

When I click on Virus and threat protection I am unable to perform a Quick or Full scan as the button is greyed out.

Firewall & network protection shows that Microsoft Defender Firewall is using settings that may make my device unsafe. The Restore Settings button is greyed out.

I have no idea how, or when, this changed to prevent me running virus scans, or doing a few other things relating to security.

Does anyone have any idea what I can do to restore security to the state it should be in. I tried switching the computer off and then on again after a short wait, but this has not had any effect.

I am running Windows 11 Home, version 22H2 with Windows Experience Pack 1000.22641.1000.0, whatever that is. I always install updates when they are available.

Viv

Check if you have the folder C:\Windows\System32\SecurityHealth\1.0.2303.27001-0. If you have, it's been known to cause Security app crashes. Many users have reported this problem.

k0065126 · Apr 29, 2023

Thanks Brian, yes I do have the folder C:\Windows\System32\SecurityHealth\1.0.2303.27001-0. and also an exe file called SecurityHealthSetup.exe.

Both are dated 18/04/2023.
Is it worth deleting, or renaming, that folder, and will that cause any problems?

k0065126 · Apr 29, 2023

FreeBooter said:
Are you using any other third-party antivirus program?

I don't use any third party anti-virus software Freebooter. Thanks for suggesting that.

BrianInEngland · Apr 29, 2023

k0065126 said:
Thanks Brian, yes I do have the folder C:\Windows\System32\SecurityHealth\1.0.2303.27001-0. and also an exe file called SecurityHealthSetup.exe.

Both are dated 18/04/2023.
Is it worth deleting, or renaming, that folder, and will that cause any problems?

It can't easily be deleted (you would have to boot into Recovery and use the command prompt), and the next time you check for updates it will install again anyway (Update to Windows Antimalware Platform 1.0.2303.27001-0). Join the ever-growing list of users who have problems with these udpates.

Mine was constantly crashing with the previous updates, but with this one it only crashes when I view the TPM status.
As a test, disable the TPM in BIOS and see if you get Security app crashes.

These updates seem to be incompatible with TPMs which is kind of ironic!

FreeBooter · Apr 29, 2023

In this guide, i will show how to fix typical issues if you cannot open the Windows Security in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

k0065126 · Apr 29, 2023

Thanks to FreeBooter and Brian for your suggestions. I have just looked at Windows Security and all of the problems have gone away, although I have no idea how or why, so I was able to do a quick Scan. Problem solved.

FreeBooter · Apr 29, 2023

We are glad to hear your issue has been resolved, thank you for letting us know that all is now well!

BrianInEngland · Apr 30, 2023

k0065126 said:
Thanks to FreeBooter and Brian for your suggestions. I have just looked at Windows Security and all of the problems have gone away, although I have no idea how or why, so I was able to do a quick Scan. Problem solved.

Is the TPM still enabled?

Mitch · Apr 30, 2023

Hi, I asked a separate question elsewhere but seems to be related to this. We have a Dell All In One Desktop running Windows 11 Home 22H2 10.0.22621. The Windows Reliability Monitor in Control Panel is showing several Critical Incidents per day - "Windows Security Health Service Stopped Working". In Services, Security Health Service/Windows Security Service (WSCSVC) is shown as "Running, Auto Delayed Start".
In Settings/Privacy & Security/Windows Security/Security at a Glance shows no issues. Antivirus etc all normal. We run Norton 360 and all is showing OK.
If the Service for Windows Security Centre/Health Centre is running and Windows Security is showing OK, is this likely to be a reporting issue rather than an actual problem? Not sure how reliable Reliabilty Monitor is? I did a repair install and the same issue is still reported.
Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.
Mitch.

Mitch · Apr 30, 2023

I have just checked and we have both 1.0.2303.27001-0 (18.04.23) & 1.0.2302.21000-0 (17.03.23) installed in the C/Windows/System32/Security Health folder. If it's a MS problem with the update is it likely they will be aware of the issue and provide a fix?
Thanks.

BrianInEngland · Apr 30, 2023

Mitch said:
I have just checked and we have both 1.0.2303.27001-0 (18.04.23) & 1.0.2302.21000-0 (17.03.23) installed in the C/Windows/System32/Security Health folder. If it's a MS problem with the update is it likely they will be aware of the issue and provide a fix?
Thanks.

It's been an issue since around July so I doubt they're in a hurry to fix it

ihana · Apr 30, 2023

Mitch said:
Salut, j'ai posé une question séparée ailleurs mais semble être liée à cela. Nous avons un ordinateur de bureau Dell All In One exécutant Windows 11 Home 22H2 10.0.22621. Le moniteur de fiabilité Windows dans le Panneau de configuration affiche plusieurs incidents critiques par jour - "Le service d'intégrité de la sécurité Windows a cessé de fonctionner". Dans Services, Security Health Service/Windows Security Service (WSCSVC) s'affiche comme "En cours d'exécution, démarrage différé automatique".
Dans Paramètres/Confidentialité et sécurité/Sécurité Windows/La sécurité en un coup d'œil ne montre aucun problème. Antivirus, etc., tout est normal. Nous exécutons Norton 360 et tout s'affiche correctement.
Si le Service for Windows Security Center/Health Center est en cours d'exécution et que Windows Security affiche OK, est-ce que cela est susceptible d'être un problème de rapport plutôt qu'un problème réel ? Vous ne savez pas à quel point Reliabilty Monitor est fiable ? J'ai fait une installation de réparation et le même problème est toujours signalé.
J'apprécierais tout conseil. Merci.
Mitch.

Bonjour, apparemment on a tous le même souci avec l'intégrité de la mémoire et l'isolation du noyau et Microsoft est au courant...

Mitch · Apr 30, 2023

Brian, In our case I'm not sure if it's a real issue or simply a reporting one as there's no visible problem - Security Health Service is running in Services and Windows Security in Settings is showing no issues. I wouldn't have noticed the warnings had I not looked at Reliability Monitor. This setting previously reported a TPM stop using Dell Supportassist, however it wasn't actually stopping which makes me suspicious of these results. Perhaps the next update to this setting will clear it as it seems difficult to remove the last one. Was wondering though if Health Centre had stopped momentarily if it would have restarted itself so it may have stopped only for a minute or two?
Thanks
Mitch.

ihana · Apr 30, 2023

Mitch said:
Brian, dans notre cas, je ne sais pas s'il s'agit d'un problème réel ou simplement d'un signalement car il n'y a pas de problème visible - Security Health Service s'exécute dans les services et la sécurité Windows dans les paramètres ne montre aucun problème. Je n'aurais pas remarqué les avertissements si je n'avais pas regardé Reliability Monitor. Ce paramètre signalait précédemment un arrêt du TPM à l'aide de Dell Supportassist, mais il ne s'arrêtait pas réellement, ce qui me rend suspect à l'égard de ces résultats. Peut-être que la prochaine mise à jour de ce paramètre l'effacera car il semble difficile de supprimer le dernier. Je me demandais cependant si le centre de santé s'était arrêté momentanément s'il se serait redémarré de manière à ce qu'il ne se soit arrêté que pendant une minute ou deux ?
Merci
Mitch.

qui sait ? Saint Microsoft va nous entendre peut-être

bon dimanche

Wynona · Apr 30, 2023

ihana said:
qui sait ? Saint Microsoft va nous entendre peut-être bon dimanche

Sorry, but I can't understand what you're saying.

k0065126 · Apr 30, 2023

BrianInEngland said:
Is the TPM still enabled?

Apparently the TPM is ready for use, which I presume means that it is enabled.

Mitch · May 1, 2023

I did some checking to see what is crashing the Windows Security App.Every time I open the App, the Windows Security Health Service (in Task Manager) stops working and the "Critical Fault" is registered in Event Viewer/Reliability Monitor. The error message says "Windows Security Service terminated unexpected. The following corrective action will be taken in 60000 milliseconds. Restart the service."
If I don't open the app, there is no issue. We use Norton 360 which administers security and turns off MS Defender so I'm not sure why we are still getting this error.
The issue,it seems, is with the connection between the app and Windows Security Service and perhaps not the update? I spent yesterday doing a clean install of Windows 11 but when I opened the Windows Security App the same thing happened.
Mitch.