Support actions resolved affected endpoints by re-triggering the Defender update through management actions and Microsoft AutoUpdate, after which the targeted clients installed the expected Defender build (example: 101.25072) and returned to normal operation. In multiple cases the stuck installer finished when left to run overnight or after the remote-triggered update executed; one user ultimately performed a forced power-off after prolonged hang and the device booted normally. A simple reboot also restored functionality for an unresponsive Defender application in one case.

The devices were changed to an excluded protection state in the Microsoft Defender portal. Support located each VM by name in the portal, set its protection/state to "excluded" so it was omitted from detection/monitoring, and verified the portal showed the device as excluded.

Support clarified they did not manage the third-party PebblePad service and directed the user to contact the Examinations Office for application-specific scanning information. Support additionally confirmed that company Windows endpoints were provisioned with the standard Windows firewall and company antivirus.

Recorded remediation attempts did not produce a consistent, definitive fix. Support advised running vendor-specific system update tooling (Lenovo System Update) and installing available driver/firmware updates; a hardware replacement was offered in one case (declined). Reboots provided temporary relief in some incidents. No single corrective action was recorded as universally effective across the reported incidents.