Can't enable Windows Firewall after using Antispyware Beta

[Ian]

I did a quick scan using Antispyware Beta, cleaned some
adware out, but upon rebooting I got an icon in the system
tray warning me that the Windows Firewall was turned off.
I attempted to turn it on again and it gave me the error
"Windows cannot start the Windows Firewall/Internet
Connection Sharing (ICS) service". I tried using System
Restore but it failed to restore it to where I wanted it
to. I reinstalled SP2 but that didn't work either. I
isntalled Norton Internet Security instead to use as a
firewall but I would rather use Windows Firewall. My next
step is to repair Windows XP but there has to be a quicker
fix. Any clues?

Thanks -- Ian

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Yes--there's a Microsoft KB article specifically about this issue:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892350

Be assured that Microsoft is aware that this experience is not what users
want from the removal process. This behavior will probably be modified in
later releases.

 

[Pat Cook]

Windows firewall will not protect as well as ZoneAlarm,
even the free version from Zonelabs.com, considered by
many to be the best. You may consider keeping it turned
off.

 

[Kaspars]

Hi, Pat!
There are some differences, though:
ZoneAlarm is free for individual and not-for-profit
charitable entity use (excluding governmental entities
and educational institutions).
Ad-Aware:
License permits you to use one copy of the Software
solely for your internal, non-commercial, operations
on a single computer.
Just two examples.
For home use (on ONE machine), of course, no problems.
But even very small office needs to buy licenses.
Regards - Kaspars

-----Original Message-----

Windows firewall will not protect as well as ZoneAlarm,
even the free version from Zonelabs.com, considered by
many to be the best. You may consider keeping it turned
off.