Windows Firewall: enabled or disabled?

[Guest]

I have a problem with Windows firewall on my girlfriend's notebook (WinXP
Home SP2). Yesterday I was checking Windows firewall because she was having
troubles while connected to the internet. In the network connections list,
the connection she uses (a remote connection with 56k modem) seems protected
with Windows firewall, and I see the little padlock on the top right of the
icon and in the description "con firewall (firewalled in italian)".
Everything seems ok here.
But if I look into the Security Center the radio button "Enabled" is checked
but both radio buttons (Enabled and Disabled) are greyed and I cannot change
the settings. Some months ago this notebook was affected by avirus but I
don't remember the name. This could be the reason. Anyway, how can I solve
the problem?
Thanks everyone!
ZDLR

 

[Malke]

I have a problem with Windows firewall on my girlfriend's notebook
(WinXP Home SP2). Yesterday I was checking Windows firewall because
she was having troubles while connected to the internet. In the
network connections list, the connection she uses (a remote connection
with 56k modem) seems protected with Windows firewall, and I see the
little padlock on the top right of the icon and in the description
"con firewall (firewalled in italian)". Everything seems ok here.
But if I look into the Security Center the radio button "Enabled" is
checked but both radio buttons (Enabled and Disabled) are greyed and I
cannot change the settings. Some months ago this notebook was affected
by avirus but I don't remember the name. This could be the reason.
Anyway, how can I solve the problem?
Thanks everyone!
ZDLR

It sounds like either 1) your girlfriend's computer is not
virus/malware-free; 2) the virus damaged system files. There is not
enough information in your post to be more specific.

First make sure the computer is truly clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Include scanning with either Sysclean or Multi_AV, plus Ewido. Do all
prep/finishing work and follow instructions to do all scans in Safe
Mode.

When all else fails, run HijackThis and post your log in one of the
specialty forums listed at the link above (not here, please).

If the machine is truly clean, then you might try a Repair Install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

As a last resort, back up her data and do a Clean Install:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#reinstall_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

Since she has a laptop computer, it probably came with some sort of
mftr.'s restore disk and that is what you would use. Refer to the
laptop manual for details.

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local version of BigStoreUSA).

Malke

 

[Guest]

Malke,
I followed your suggestions.
The notebook is clean.
Could it be that the virus changed something in the registry and disabled
windows firewall?

 

[Joe Wright]

I have a problem with Windows firewall on my girlfriend's notebook (WinXP
Home SP2). Yesterday I was checking Windows firewall because she was having
troubles while connected to the internet. In the network connections list,
the connection she uses (a remote connection with 56k modem) seems protected
with Windows firewall, and I see the little padlock on the top right of the
icon and in the description "con firewall (firewalled in italian)".
Everything seems ok here.
But if I look into the Security Center the radio button "Enabled" is checked
but both radio buttons (Enabled and Disabled) are greyed and I cannot change
the settings. Some months ago this notebook was affected by avirus but I
don't remember the name. This could be the reason. Anyway, how can I solve
the problem?
Thanks everyone!
ZDLR

Does the machine have Norton Security Center? Maybe that firewall, or
another is enabled.

 

[Guest]

No other firewall is installed on this machine

Does the machine have Norton Security Center? Maybe that firewall, or
another is enabled.

 

[Malke]

Malke,
I followed your suggestions.
The notebook is clean.
Could it be that the virus changed something in the registry and
disabled windows firewall?

Certainly. Try:

Start>Run cmd [enter]
netsh winsock reset catalog [enter]
Follow prompts and reboot.

Also:

FIREWALL DEAD, or other network issues -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892350

Windows XP Service Pack 2 problems/The Service Pack 2 firewall -
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#The_Service_Pack_2_firewall

Troubleshooting Windows Firewall in XPSP2 - http://tinyurl.com/3tnkt

Windows cannot display Windows Firewall settings error (Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/sharedaccess.htm

Reset the Windows Firewall Policy settings to defaults -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/resetfwpol.htm

Malke

 

[Rock]

I have a problem with Windows firewall on my girlfriend's notebook (WinXP
Home SP2). Yesterday I was checking Windows firewall because she was having
troubles while connected to the internet. In the network connections list,
the connection she uses (a remote connection with 56k modem) seems protected
with Windows firewall, and I see the little padlock on the top right of the
icon and in the description "con firewall (firewalled in italian)".
Everything seems ok here.
But if I look into the Security Center the radio button "Enabled" is checked
but both radio buttons (Enabled and Disabled) are greyed and I cannot change
the settings. Some months ago this notebook was affected by avirus but I
don't remember the name. This could be the reason. Anyway, how can I solve
the problem?
Thanks everyone!
ZDLR

See if this helps.

Windows Firewall options are grayed out:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/resetfwpol.htm

 

[Guest]

Malke and Rock,
I have solved the problem thanks to your links (the one by Rock that is the
same as the last one by Malke).
Thanks again guys!

 

[Malke]

Malke and Rock,
I have solved the problem thanks to your links (the one by Rock that
is the same as the last one by Malke).
Thanks again guys!

Great! Glad to hear you got it sorted. Thanks for taking the time to let
us know.

Malke

 

[Rock]

Malke and Rock,
I have solved the problem thanks to your links (the one by Rock that is the
same as the last one by Malke).
Thanks again guys!

Great, thanks for the update.