XPSP2 firewall not the Windows default how do i reset?

[Guest]

Hi, I have Windows MCE 2005 with XPSP2 and I have Symantec Norton Internet
Ssecurity 05 installed on my PC. I have disabled the firewall in Internet
Security and truned back on the XPSP2 firewall. For some reason when I reboot
my PC more often than not the XPSP2 firewall is switched off and I have to go
into the security centre and re-enable it. Symantec tell me that when NIS
installs it configures it's own firewall NPF as the primary firewall within
windows and even though it's turned off because it is set at the primary this
causes the XPSP2 to switch off. They tell me that I need to reset the XPSP2
firewall to be the default in windows again but they can't tell me how to do
this?? Does anyone know how I set the XPSP2 firewall to be the primary
firewall in windows XP.

Thanks

Brian

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Why do you want to do this?.. Norton firewall gives warning of incoming and
outgoing events.. SP2 firewall only protects against incoming..

 

[Guest]

With Norton enabled my system is getting breached once maybe twice a week I
have constant virus and spyware issues. I dont have any problems at all
running XPSP2. I have consulted a number of people online including symantec
(who didn't seem surprised that I wanted NPF disabled) and a few MS
columnists who also don't rate NPF.

NPF is very poor. What's the use of having a firewall that blocks incoming
and outgoing data if it doesn't work? All of the people i spoke to said that
they would not recommend NIS but they did say that NAV was very good. I only
purchased NIS to get NAV and Norton Anti-Spam and I have regretted installing
it it has proven to be vunerable and nothing but trouble.

I'd rather XPSP2 firewall anyday. Symantec being helpful say that they know
what the problem is but someone else will have to tell me how to fix it???
There tech support has been very prompt and polite but about as much use as a
chocolate fireguard......

I ran with XPSP2 for 4 months with no issues, NPF for 2 months with issues
EVERY WEEK and since I've been back on XPSP2 again I haven't had any
problems. Other than NIS is disabling the XPSP2 firewall leaving me totally
open (and yes I have been all through this many times with Symantec's tech
support and it's definately NIS/NPF that's causing the problem). They tell me
it's because NPF thinks it's teh primary or more accurately XPSP2 thinks NPF
is the primary and shuts down if that's true or not I don't know.

If anyone can help I'd be greatful. The only thing I haven't done of as of
yet is reinstall SP2 which i may do in the next day or so.

Brian

 

[Uncle John]

"Loki-uk"
What an epic! If you don't ant to sue the Symantec Firewall, uninstall it.
You can still run NAV.

If you want a good firewall and antivirus package use ZoneAlarm Security
Suite. --
Uncle John

 

[Guest]

The NPF is part of NIS the only way I can uninstall it is to remove NIS which
removes NAV and Anti-Spam which I want to keep there is no separate
unistaller otherwise I would have and as I said disabling it just causes lots
of problems. I'll try Zone Alarm thanks for the tip (would of liked to have
got to the bottom of it tho)

Thanks

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Loki

If you have issues with stuff getting 'through' the firewall, I would
suggest that the attacks are coming from behind the lines.. look for
programs or utilities being used by you or others that re-instate the
problems..


--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User

"If hard work were such a wonderful thing, surely the rich would have kept
it all to themselves." - Lane Kirkland

 

[Uncle John]

"Loki-uk"
Yes, go for the ZA Security Suite
After installing SP2 I had endless problems with the 2004 & 2005 versions of
Symantec\Norton Antivirus and I could never get the firewall to work well. I
changed to the ZA firewall + AV which has been trouble free. It is a much
more modern product which integrates well with XP Pro+SP2

 

[Guest]

Thanks UJ