Security Center

How to Disable or Enable Security Center in Vista​

   Information

Security Center alerts you when your security software is out of date, turned off, or when your security settings should be strengthened. Security Center monitors the following: Firewall, Automatic updating, Antivirus, Antispyware (EX: Windows Defender), Internet security settings, and UAC (User Account Control).

   Warning

If you disable the Security Center, then you will not be alerted if something disables one of your security programs.

EXAMPLE: Security Center Disabled

​

​

STEP ONE

Security Center Alert Warning

1. If you are Disabling the Security Center​

NOTE: You will need to do this before you Disable the Security Center in step 7 below.​

A) Turn off the Security Center alert warning notification.​

​

B) Go to STEP TWO below.​

​

2. If you are Enabling the Security Center​

NOTE: You will only be able to do this after you enabled the Security Center in step 8 below.​

A) Turn on the Security Center alert warning notification if you want to.​

​

B) Continue to STEP TWO.​

​

STEP TWO

Through Services

3. Open the Start Menu.​

​

4. In the white line (Start Search) area, type services and press Enter.​

​

5. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

​

6. Scroll down and right click on Security Center and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)​

​

​

7. To Disable Security Center ​

NOTE: Be sure to do step 1 above before you disable the Security Center.​

A) Click on the Stop button and wait a second for it to stop. (See screenshot below step 9)​

​

B) To the right of Startup type, click on the drop down menu arrowand select Disable. (See screenshot below step 9)​

​

C) Click on the Apply button.​

​

8. To Enable Security Center​

NOTE: Be sure to do step 2 above after enabling the Security Center.​

A) To the right of Startup type, click on the drop down menu arrow and select Automatic. (See screenshot below step 9)​

​

B) Click on the Apply button.​

​

C) Click on the Start button.​

​

9. Click on OK.​

​

​

10. Close Services Window.​

​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Disable or Enable the Security Center Alert Warning Notification in Vista
• How to Turn Windows Defender On or Off
• How to Turn UAC On or Off in Vista
• How to Turn DEP On or Off for a Program
• How to Enable or Disable DEP in Vista
• How to Restore or Remove the Security Tab in Vista
• How to Disable or Enable a Specific Security Center Alert Notification in Vista
• How to Fix the Vista Security Center Reporting Incorrect Information

 

[dinesh]

I would not use Norton with Vista. It has caused problems for a lot of people.

Hey Brink i was using Free AVG last year and now i m using Norton Internet Security 09 with Vista and noticed that Norton works great for me. Did it really cause any issue for you when used with Vista?
If yes, which version caused the issues?
Regards,
Dinesh.

 

[Brink]

Hello Dinesh,

It was mostly the older 2007 versions.

 

[van10s]

Hi Brink,
i got a problem with my Security Centre too. it can't be started a few days ago, n i followed your tutorial, then it was okay. but now the problem comes again, n even worse. everytime i set it to Automatic, after a few seconds it will be set back to Disabled. i wonder if its because of some spyware, because last time i got antivirus xp pro on my computer. but after that, i have scanned my computer using trend micro internet security 2009 and malwarebytes anti-malware, and the antivirus xp pro is also removed already. however, this problem is still there.
do u know what can i do to fix it??
thanks before..

 

[dinesh]

Hi Brink,
i got a problem with my Security Centre too. it can't be started a few days ago, n i followed your tutorial, then it was okay. but now the problem comes again, n even worse. everytime i set it to Automatic, after a few seconds it will be set back to Disabled. i wonder if its because of some spyware, because last time i got antivirus xp pro on my computer. but after that, i have scanned my computer using trend micro internet security 2009 and malwarebytes anti-malware, and the antivirus xp pro is also removed already. however, this problem is still there.
do u know what can i do to fix it??
thanks before..

Hi van10s,
May be a reinstall is the option for you...

 

[Brink]

Hi Brink,
i got a problem with my Security Centre too. it can't be started a few days ago, n i followed your tutorial, then it was okay. but now the problem comes again, n even worse. everytime i set it to Automatic, after a few seconds it will be set back to Disabled. i wonder if its because of some spyware, because last time i got antivirus xp pro on my computer. but after that, i have scanned my computer using trend micro internet security 2009 and malwarebytes anti-malware, and the antivirus xp pro is also removed already. however, this problem is still there.
do u know what can i do to fix it??
thanks before..

Hello Vans10, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You might see if doing a System Restore using a restore point dated when Security Center worked may fix it for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[van10s]

Hi all,
thanks for the suggestions. may i know what will be the risk if i just leave the problem as it is? because i'm currently out of town n i don't bring my installer cds with me, so reinstalling won't be that good for me.
and about system restore, is that mean i will lose all my files added or modified and also softwares installed after the time of the restore point?

 

[Brink]

Hello Vans,

It will not affect your personal files, but it can affect any installed programs made after the restore point date.

 

[KeeJung]

I am having the same problem with my security center service. I have searched all over(NOTE: the problem started last week i believe) and i get the same information but it does not work. My security service center is still disabled. I had AVG but it wouldn't show any updates or anything, even when i got a message stating that my antivirus program has been turned off i was still unable to turn it back on. I had deleted AVG and am currently unable to install it as well as any other antivirus on my pc for some reason. I do not understand why i am having this problem. When i try to install Windows Live OneCare my pc(laptop) goes to a blue screen or as my friend calls it "the blue screen of death" which causes me to restart my pc. I have registry booster and registry fix on my pc, unable to install malwarebytes and spybot, etc. And as of right now i have no Antivirus program on pc because i am unable to install anything. My firewall is on(windows firewall) but that's it.

 

[Brink]

Hello KeeJung, and welcome to Vista Forum.

You might see if doing a System Restore using a restore point dated about a week a go or so when Security Center worked may fix it for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[KeeJung]

Hello KeeJung, and welcome to Vista Forum.

You might see if doing a System Restore using a restore point dated about a week a go or so when Security Center worked may fix it for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

With the System Restore, will i have to back up any files just in case? I have added programs and documents that have been added during that time and not sure if they will get deleted off.

 

[KeeJung]

Wellp, i did the system restore but now i cannot install anything on my pc. i get the ".exe" is not a valid win32.exe

 

[Brink]

KeeJung,

It looks like you may need to do a clean reinstall of Vista instead then.

 

[KeeJung]

Ok, nevermind i got everything working again. Thank you^^

 

[Brink]

That's great news. What turned out to be the solution for you?

 

[Ghidorah]

Dear Brink,

Your instructions on how to enable the security center are very unclear. You say in Step 8, "Next to Startup type, click...".

What is "Startup type" and where do I find it? You don't say where to find it, so I can't do anything to fix the problem that says "The Security Center Service cannot be started."

 

[KeeJung]

That's great news. What turned out to be the solution for you?

It was actually the programs on the site which i found out were bad. I don't understand that because the files did say .exe

 

[Brink]

Dear Brink,

Your instructions on how to enable the security center are very unclear. You say in Step 8, "Next to Startup type, click...".

What is "Startup type" and where do I find it? You don't say where to find it, so I can't do anything to fix the problem that says "The Security Center Service cannot be started."

Hello Ghidorah, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If you look at the screenshot under step 9 while doing step 8, it should help make it easier to follow. "Startup Type" is the section listed in that screenshot.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Ghidorah]

Dear Brink,

I'm afraid your reply doesn't help because I don't know how to get the window that you are referring to. From the point where Windows Vista loads (right after turning on the computer), what do I click on to get that window (the one in the screenshot)?

Ghidorah

 

[Brink]

No problem Ghodorah,

Doing each step in the STEP TWO section of the tutorial on the first page of this thread will show you how to get to that screen to do this with.

 

[JohnClaude]

I badly need your help. The Security Center service is disabled and can't be enabled. In addition most services are disabled and I can only boot in safe mode. Have tried msconfig and enabled Security center and other services but it won't start. Whenever I click on 'start', it says SC can't start in safe mode. Symantec endpoint protection, IObit and Spybot can't find any virus or malware. I would greatly appreciate your help!