How To Resolve Windows Defender Error 0x80240029

The 0x80240029 error often shows if you’re trying to update Windows Defender on Windows Vista. The Windows defender program has been designed to be the “default” firewall that provides basic protection to every Windows PC. Although you might not see it, Windows Defender runs continuously on Windows computers, allowing your system to remain protected whilst browsing the Internet. However, this program is also responsible for causing the 0x80240029 error.

What Causes The 0x80240029 Error?

Error Found: 0x80240029 Issue

The 0x80240029 error is caused by a number of problems, mainly due to Windows update problems or download problems on your system. However, other issues can often cause this error including virus infections and registry errors.

How To Fix The 0x80240029 Error

Step 1 – Manually Install Windows Defender Definitions

As Windows Defender typically updates your system with the “Windows Update” service on your PC, it’s often the case that Windows update errors cause the 0x80240029 error. An effective workaround for this problem is to download updates for Windows Defender manually from the Microsoft website:

1. Visit the Microsoft Security Portal.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions
3. If this does not work, proceed to step 2.

Step 2 – Rename The “SoftwareDistribution” Folder

The SoftwareDistribution folder is the folder that Windows uses to store any updates gathered from the Windows Update service. This folder is used for all the updates for your PC, but is constantly causing problems for you computer as it’s prone to storing a lot of damaged and partially-downloaded update files. Here’s what you need to do to fix it:

1. Exit all open programs.
2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
3. At the command prompt, type the following command to rename the SoftwareDistribution folder:
   net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
net start wuauserv
net start bits

After you’ve done that, try the update again. If it fails this time, then proceed to Steps 3 & 4

Step 3 – Clean Out Viruses From Your PC

– Download This Antivirus Program

Windows Defender is often the target of many viruses which come onto your computer and either cause damage to your PC or corrupt various software programs that are on your system. Because Win Defender is a firewall that blocks many malicious attempts to access your PC, many viruses try and prevent this part of Windows from working properly, and can cause the 0x80240029 error. To make sure that this is not a problem, you should try scanning through your system with a virus removal program such as XoftSpy.

Step 4 – Clean Out The Windows Registry

– Download This Registry Cleaner

A registry cleaner is a software tool which is able to scan through your system and fix a large variety of errors that are inside it. One of the biggest causes of the 0x80240029 error is the way in which Windows Defender tries to read a series of registry settings… but is unable to due to them being corrupted & damaged. To fix this, you need to make sure that your computer’s registry is working perfectly, and to do that you need to use a registry cleaner. You can see our recommended registry cleaner below: