Windows Firewall always disabled

[UncleDave]

My XP SP2 firewall is always disabled for some reason..

The balloon pops up stating this, and when I try to enable it says that you are unable to activate the firewall etc..

In the firewall settings, the On and Off buttons for the firewall are greyed out, so nothing can be changed.

AVG also seems to be reported as not working.. but in AVG itself everything is fine.

Windows file problem for the security centre maybe? OR some kind of virus/trojan? Thanks in advance!
Dave.

[leosayer]

Try re-installing SP2.

[Tacoboy]

ZoneAlarm is a better Firewall and is free.
www.zonealarm.com

[neil_cardiff]

Hi Dave,

Wouldn't worry at all, as Windows Firewall, while a valiant attempt by
Microsoft to improve the seciruty for its users, is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Indeed, MS recommend that corporate users disable it, and rely on an exterior hardware firewall.

In hort, keep the firewall disabled, make sure your hardware firewall works, and stop XP from bugging you all the time about it by turning off the alerts in the Security Centre - under 'Change the way XP alerts me' and unchecking the checkbox for Firewall.

Neil

[UncleDave]

Yeah I'm trying a reinstall of SP2 just in case, did think about doing that before.. (either that or the sfc /scannow command)

Otherwise I'll use Zonealarm or similar (I did have problems with that before though..) and i've got no Hardware firewall!

Dave.

[aldi]

You could check that the services are starting, 'internet connection sharing' and 'windows firewall' if I remember correctly, allthough it is sunday and I havent been up long.

Check the event log for errors relating to these services also.

[UncleDave]

Thanks for help so far but still not fixed..

Says something about the settings are controlled by Group Policy for my security... what the hell?
Think that is the problem to be honest, how to fix though

Dave.

[neil_cardiff]

UncleDave said:

Otherwise I'll use Zonealarm or similar (I did have problems with that before though..) and i've got no Hardware firewall! Dave.

If you've a spare shit old pc lying about, download Smoothwall, and build your own!

Works a treat, and its free...

Neil

p.s. Groupl Policy can be controlled locally, do a google for the 'how to' as I haven't time to write how to at the mo. But in the first instance, nothing should change local group policy settings, and I certainly don't know of any spyware or viri that use that as an attack vector (too obvious).

I'd rebuild if were that concerned - won't take long with your knowledge...

[UncleDave]

neil_cardiff said:

won't take long with your knowledge...

Done some Group Policy changes, god knows what was wrong and why that happened but it seems to be fixed now.. And i've just introduced myself to a new bit in Windows

Dave.

[neil_cardiff]

UncleDave said:

neil_cardiff said: won't take long with your knowledge... And i've just introduced myself to a new bit in Windows Dave.

Theres a whole sub industry and set of exams based around Group Policy Design, and Active Directory which is what it is controlled by in a 'coporate' sense...

Very much a minefield if you don't know what you're doing, but also very VERY useful if you do...