no access to Microsoft Defender folder / Win11

[tm13]

I have installed Windows 11x64.
When I want to access the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender
I have to click Continue first because it is a protected folder.
But then I get a message that access to this folder is denied.
If I install Windows 11x64 from the same installation media,
not on a VirtualBox, but on the PC, then I can access this folder normally.
Error message see *.jpg file.

[scottgus1]

I'll say this is probably a permissions issue in the OS installed in the VM. Did you use the Virtualbox auto-install feature, where you give the user and password to the Create New VM Wizard?

[tm13]

I mounted the Win11 *.iso and then booted from it and installed Windows with the inputs that were then required during the installation.
The user / password I have entered during installation or when prompted by Windows 11.
In the same way I have also installed Windows 10.
There are no problems with this Defender folder.
Only with Windows 11, I can also access all other folders under Windows 11, just not this Defender folder.

[scottgus1]

I mounted the Win11 *.iso and then booted from it and installed Windows with the inputs that were then required during the installation.

Still a little fuzzy.

Did you fill out this page in the Create Virtual Machine Wizard?

unattended install.png (193.58 KiB) Viewed 2051 times

If you did, then you did an Unattended Install, and there may be a permissions glitch.

If, instead, you checked this box:

not unattended install.png (194.43 KiB) Viewed 2051 times

and the "Unattended Guest OS Install Setup" page with username password above did not appear in the Wizard, then you did a normal install.

Which one was it, normal or unattended?

[tm13]

Normal install.

I have mounted the Win11 *.iso via mass storage, via Change.

[scottgus1]

OK, thanks. With a manual install, Virtualbox did not do any account setup in the VM OS. So the problem you're having with the Defender permissions is strictly inside the Windows OS, and is not being influenced by Virtualbox. Therefore you'll have to ask a Microsoft forum or help channel for help on this one. It does not appear to be a Virtualbox problem.

[tm13]

ok, but what is strange is that when I install Windows 10 with the same method in VirtualBox, there is not the problem with this folder.

The same if I use the same Win11 *.iso and install it on the same PC, without VirtualBox, then there is not the problem with this folder either.

So it's unlikely that it's Windows, isn't it ? That's why I assumed that then it can only be VirtualBox.

[scottgus1]

So it's unlikely that it's Windows, isn't it ?

Bit-flips and glitches happen.

Please answer these questions:
Have you changed the UAC settings from the Windows defaults?
Have you made any Group Policy Editor changes on the VM OS?
Is the log-in account where this problem happens an Administrator account? If it's a regular account, does the same problem happen when logged in on an Admin account?
Have you made a new Admin account on this VM and seen the same problem on the new account?
How many VMs have you made with this ISO that demonstrate this problem?
Have you re-downloaded the ISO and made a VM, and does the new ISO demonstrate the problem?

[tm13]

Have you changed the UAC settings from the Windows defaults?
NO

Have you made any Group Policy Editor changes on the VM OS?
NO

Have you made any Group Policy Editor changes on the VM OS?
NO

Is the log-in account where this problem happens an Administrator account? If it's a regular account, does the same problem happen when logged in on an Admin account?
LOG-IN ACCOUNT IS ADMIN

How many VMs have you made with this ISO that demonstrate this problem?
OCCURS WITH EVERY VM CREATED. I HAVE TESTED UMPTEEN TIMES

Have you re-downloaded the ISO and made a VM, and does the new ISO demonstrate the problem?
YES. SAME PROBLEM

[scottgus1]

Thanks for the answers. This one begins to look deeper than I know how to fix.

Please try this question, then report what happens:

Have you made a new Admin account on this VM and seen the same problem on the new account?

Also, please post a link to the ISO you're downloading.

[fth0]

the same PC

FWIW, your argument is flawed:

The PC and the VM do not have much in common, because the guest OS only sees virtual hardware. Additionally, VirtualBox provides different virtual hardware to Windows 11 guests than to Windows 10 guests. In consequence, the guest OS installation can make different decisions when being installed and/or operated in a VM.

[tm13]

new Account (Admin), the same Problem.

MVS 22621.1702 Mai 2023 (SHA)
de-de_windows_11_consumer_editions_version_22h2_updated_may_2023_x64_dvd_73fea6af.iso (5,44 GB)

(mod edit: removed link to ISO)

[tm13]

have now carried out various tests again.
So, after installing and then trying to access the folder.... does not work.
Have then performed various settings in Windows.
Now I can access the folder.
But honestly, I do not know what now in detail leads to the fact that it then eventually goes.
In the VM Win10 access also goes immediately after installation...

Nevertheless, thanks again for the help !

[scottgus1]

Glad you're up and running!

I had to remove the link to the ISO, as it's copyrighted material, and we don't want to wake up any lawyers. I was actually hoping for the website link to where you got the ISO from. (I was wanting to know if it was an official Microsoft ISO, either downloaded or through the Media Creation Tool, or if it was a modified home- or work-brew.)

But now that you've finagled the OS and got access, that's good! Sounds like it was some sort of perceived difference between the VM and PC environments that got the OS installer to make a different decision on permissions, like fth0 surmised above.

If you can ever remember what you did to resolve this in the OS, please let us know what you did.

[tm13]

unchanged, original ISO from MS, a Microsoft MSDN version.

i will test again and report....