Windows Firewall runs intermittantly ..???

[Guest]

What would cause my Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to
stop running? I have been using it for about a year but now notice it has
stopped. When I try to resart it, I get a message error5:access denied.

Using Win XP (home) SP2. About a year ago I "removed" my Norton Interent
Security and went with Windows Firewall. All was well until about a week ago.
I since have installed Zone Alarm (free) Firewall so I would have some
firewall.

Numerous reboots and system scans with Yahoo anti-spy and Lavasoft Adware
have come up clean. Also My Computer Associates Anti-virus scans are clean.
All are up to date. My MS BSA 2.0 also comes up clean and with Strong
Security.

I did use the "Microsoft beta anti-spy" ONCE just before the time I noticed
the WF was not on anymore. It came up clean. I then removed it from my
computer. I have heard it can cause problems to systems sometimes.

I have run a cmd netsh Winsock reset also.

However twice in the past couple days now, I check and the WF IS indeed
started. But it is not there consistently. Not sure if after SOME reboots it
restarts or how it restarts. When I try to start it on my own on Local
Services it will not restart.

Confused. Also I am not very savy on computers but can follow instructions
if someone walks me thru a procedure to try. And am learning alot that way.
Thanks for any suggestions or help.

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Sun, 8 Jan 2006 08:03:02 -0800, "oknowhi"

What would cause my Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) to
stop running? I have been using it for about a year but now notice it has
stopped. When I try to resart it, I get a message error5:access denied.

The overall pattern could be naturalfile corruption or malware.

If the system is subjected to bad exits, and/or crashes a lot
generally, then suspect file system corruption, with possibly hardware
problems behind this. RAM errors will cause variable problems, but
can cause secondary file system damage that will be more static in
nature. Because bad HD sectors and file system corruption affects
some files but not others, and does so in a permanent way, the effects
are more static and less variable than bad RAM etc.

Using Win XP (home) SP2. About a year ago I "removed" my Norton Interent
Security and went with Windows Firewall. All was well until about a week ago.
I since have installed Zone Alarm (free) Firewall so I would have some
firewall.

Numerous reboots and system scans with Yahoo anti-spy and Lavasoft Adware
have come up clean. Also My Computer Associates Anti-virus scans are clean.
All are up to date. My MS BSA 2.0 also comes up clean and with Strong
Security.

So far, I'm only seeing one reference to av, and that's probably an
informal scan from within the ?infected OS using the resident av.

I did use the "Microsoft beta anti-spy" ONCE just before the time I noticed
the WF was not on anymore. It came up clean. I then removed it from my
computer. I have heard it can cause problems to systems sometimes.

It's beta, so that's an expected risk.
It's been a pretty good beta though.

I have run a cmd netsh Winsock reset also.
Good...

However twice in the past couple days now, I check and the WF IS indeed
started. But it is not there consistently. Not sure if after SOME reboots it
restarts or how it restarts. When I try to start it on my own on Local
Services it will not restart.

Confused. Also I am not very savy on computers but can follow instructions
if someone walks me thru a procedure to try. And am learning alot that way.
Thanks for any suggestions or help.

The step I'd like to take would be a more thourough av scan,
preferably done formally from a Bart CDR boot. Malware can disturb
Internet access and knock out defenses such as firewall, but leftovers
from imperfect uninstallations of previous firewalls may also do that.

"Norton" is NOTORIOUS for messy uninstalls, and some suggest this is a
deliberate self-serving ploy as part of their DRM etc.

Well, you know how I feel about user-hostile vandors and commercial
malware, including DRM...

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