HELP: Can't get Win XP Pro Firewall to shut off on single home PC! More options

[Dreamspinner3]

I recently ran Windows Update and now I have a problem with WinXP
Pro's built-in firewall; I always have it turned off because I use a
3rd party firewall and don't want conflict between the two. Suddenly,
since the update, I'm getting pop-up boxes from WinXP's firewall &
went I went to the Security Center and Windows now I can't use the
Windows Firewall tool in Control Panel to turn off the Windows
Firewall or to configure Windows Firewall settings on the Windows XP
SP2 on my computer. Some options are appear dimmed, and I get this
message For your security, some settings are controlled by Group
Policy.

What is this "group policy" thing? I never heard of this Windows XP
option before. My machine is a single home PC on a high-speed
connection to the Internet. It is a single home PC, I have full
administrator rights.


How do I fix my PC so that this "group policy" is no longer in
effect? I'm not a total PC novice, but this Group Policy issues is
totally new to me, so can someone explain it to me in simple terms?

 

[Maincat]

I recently ran Windows Update and now I have a problem with WinXP
Pro's built-in firewall; I always have it turned off because I use a
3rd party firewall and don't want conflict between the two. Suddenly,
since the update, I'm getting pop-up boxes from WinXP's firewall &
went I went to the Security Center and Windows now I can't use the
Windows Firewall tool in Control Panel to turn off the Windows
Firewall or to configure Windows Firewall settings on the Windows XP
SP2 on my computer. Some options are appear dimmed, and I get this
message For your security, some settings are controlled by Group
Policy.

What is this "group policy" thing? I never heard of this Windows XP
option before. My machine is a single home PC on a high-speed
connection to the Internet. It is a single home PC, I have full
administrator rights.


How do I fix my PC so that this "group policy" is no longer in
effect? I'm not a total PC novice, but this Group Policy issues is
totally new to me, so can someone explain it to me in simple terms?

Group Policy sets the framework or environment within which you operate. It
is a collection of items which you can control - access to files, drives,
permission to do various things.
Start -run - type gpedit.msc and Group Policy will appear. DO NOT make
changes on the fly so to speak. Unless you have a pressing reason to alter
any setting, leave it alone. It comes into it's own when used in a
server/domain environment. You have to have GP running.

HTH