Unable to open Window Firewall in Control Panel

C

CharlesEF

Hi All,

I have WinXP Pro SP3 and when I go to Control Panel and double click
on the 'Windows Firewall' icon I get an error message. There is no
error number, only the text, The service Windows Firewall/Internet
Connection Service (ICS) is not started. Do your wish to start it? I
then click on the 'Yes' button and after a second to two I get another
error message. This message states that the service could not be
started.

The error text that I post here is not word for word but you should
get the idea of my problem. I am unable to check the status or add
exclusions.

Has anyone heard of this error? Does anyone know how I can fix the
problem?


Thanks for any help,

Charles
 
E

Etaoin Shrdlu

Hi All,

I have WinXP Pro SP3 and when I go to Control Panel and double click
on the 'Windows Firewall' icon I get an error message. There is no
error number, only the text, The service Windows Firewall/Internet
Connection Service (ICS) is not started. Do your wish to start it? I
then click on the 'Yes' button and after a second to two I get another
error message. This message states that the service could not be
started.

The error text that I post here is not word for word but you should
get the idea of my problem. I am unable to check the status or add
exclusions.

Has anyone heard of this error? Does anyone know how I can fix the
problem?


Thanks for any help,

Charles

You should do a malware scan if you haven't already, and perhaps this KB
article (although it says it applies to SP2) might help:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920074
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Is the computer fully-patched at Windows Update?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)? Were any of these applications running
in the background when you installed ___?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?
 
C

CharlesEF

Hi,

The Anti-Virus and Firewall is Norton Internet Security 360. This
computer has always had some version of Norton installed. This
computer was infected about 6 months ago (can't remember infection
name) and I used SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes to scan and remove
the infection. I do not check the Windows Firewall settings very
often so I can not tell you that it was working before the infection.
The computer did give me an error 1083 when I tried to use Windows
Update. I also got the 1083 when Defender tried to check for
updates. These errors showed up after the removal of the infection.
With help from MS support I did get these 2 problems fixed. The
client refused to allow me to re-install Windows so I was forced to go
the removal route. Other than Defender the client has no other anti-
spyware software running at all times.

I will check out the link mentioned in another post, maybe it will
help.


Thanks for your input, if you have any other ideas please let me know.

Charles
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

The Anti-Virus and Firewall is Norton Internet Security 360.

N360 includes the Norton Personal Firewall and will disable the Windows
Firewall (as well as Windows Defender, if installed) by default. If you
cannot access or enable the Norton firewall either OR if you cannot access
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com via IE (only), keep reading.

TIP: Norton (and McAfee) applications are notorious for not upgrading
cleanly (i.e., from NAV 2005 to NIS 2007 to N360 2008 to N360 2010). Always
(1) uninstall the current Norton application (as well as LiveUpdate & any
Norton Add-ons), (2) download/run the Norton Removal Tool*, (3) reboot, and
then (4) do a clean install of the new application and/or version.
This computer was infected about 6 months ago (can't remember infection
name) and I used SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes to scan and remove
the infection.

I suspect you may have MUCH more work to do, Charles, and the computer
should NOT be connected to the internet or any local networks (i.e., other
computers) until you've gotten everything squared away & the Norton or the
Windows Firewall can be and is enabled!

NB: If there was no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had
expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or the subscription has
since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!

As you probably know, Microsoft PCSafety provides home users (only) with
no-charge support in dealing with malware infections such as viruses,
spyware (including unwanted software), and adware.
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?&prid=7552&st=1

Also available via the Consumer Security Support home page:
https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com/

Otherwise...

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.

2a. WinXP => Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan (only!)
in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

2b. Vista or Win7=> Run this scan instead:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/whatsnew.htm

3. Now run a thorough check for hijackware, including posting requested logs
in an appropriate forum, not here. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!!

Checking for/Help with Hijackware:
.. http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
.. http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
.. http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
.. http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

**Chances are you will need to seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5,
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup,
http://www.bluetack.co.uk/forums/index.php,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30 or other appropriate forums.**

=====================
*
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe
 
C

CharlesEF

N360 includes the Norton Personal Firewall and will disable the Windows
Firewall (as well as Windows Defender, if installed) by default.  If you
cannot access or enable the Norton firewall either OR if you cannot accesshttp://windowsupdate.microsoft.comvia IE (only), keep reading.

TIP: Norton (and McAfee) applications are notorious for not upgrading
cleanly (i.e., from NAV 2005 to NIS 2007 to N360 2008 to N360 2010).  Always
(1) uninstall the current Norton application (as well as LiveUpdate & any
Norton Add-ons), (2) download/run the Norton Removal Tool*, (3) reboot, and
then (4) do a clean install of the new application and/or version.


I suspect you may have MUCH more work to do, Charles, and the computer
should NOT be connected to the internet or any local networks (i.e., other
computers) until you've gotten everything squared away & the Norton or the
Windows Firewall can be and is enabled!

NB: If there was no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had
expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or the subscription has
since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
Windows.  A Repair Install will NOT help!

As you probably know, Microsoft PCSafety provides home users (only) with
no-charge support in dealing with malware infections such as viruses,
spyware (including unwanted software), and adware.https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?&prid=7552&st=1

Also available via the Consumer Security Support home page:https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com/

Otherwise...

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan!  You may need to download the
MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.

2a. WinXP => Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan (only!)
in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be:http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

2b. Vista or Win7=> Run this scan instead:http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/whatsnew.htm

3. Now run a thorough check for hijackware, including posting requested logs
in an appropriate forum, not here. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!!

Checking for/Help with Hijackware:
.http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
.http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
.http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
.http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

**Chances are you will need to seek expert assistance inhttp://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewf...dex.php,http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30or other appropriate forums.**

=====================
*ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_...

Hi PA Bear,

I agree 100%, a reformat and install should be done but the client
will not allow me to. Everything they need to do works fine and
therefore I am unable to convince them otherwise. I also explained
that it would cost them more in the long run for me to try to fix the
problem then just a reformat and install would. Still no joy, the
client does not want the computer wiped out (don't ask me why, I don't
know).

I have run MSRT, Defender, Malwarebytes, SuperAntiSpyware and Norton
full scans several times a month, every month since the infection
(MSRT is only run when a new version comes out), with no reports of
problems from any of these programs. MSRT, Malwarebytes and
SuperAntiSpyware were downloaded from a clean computer (mine) and
installed every time I did a full scan. The programs were removed
after the scan was complete (not Defender).

On Monday I will try all suggestions from all the replies. I will
post back with my results.


Thanks for your time and information.

Charles
 

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