Another small problem that's been annoying me for a while - my Windows
Firewall got messed up at some point. When I click on Windows Firewall it
shows it as Off and everything is grayed out with the message at the top that
says: For your security, some settings are controlled by group policy. Going
through Help looking up this Group Policy thing was nothing but a headache.
It listed procedures that I've tried and can't run, specifically it said they
were for Win XP PRO only, and I've always had XP Home. (Would this have
anything to do with my using .NET framework?)
However, when I go into Security Center, it says my Firewall is On. When I
call up the settings on my connections, it also says the Firewall is on for
that connection. But there's another weird thing in there. It says that my
Norton Internet Worm Protection is currently on. I used Norton AV, much to my
regret, some months ago and got rid of it and have been using AVG since.
Though while uninstalling Norton it was a battle to get rid of it, and it
didn't go quietly. Apparently it left something behind and I can't find it,
unless there's something hidden good somehwere in the registry.
Anyone have any thoughts on how to fix this thing with my Firewall, and get
rid of this Norton Internet Worm Protection thing?
Alex wrote:
> Another small problem that's been annoying me for a while - my Windows
> Firewall got messed up at some point. When I click on Windows Firewall it
> shows it as Off and everything is grayed out with the message at the top that
> says: For your security, some settings are controlled by group policy. Going
> through Help looking up this Group Policy thing was nothing but a headache.
> It listed procedures that I've tried and can't run, specifically it said they
> were for Win XP PRO only, and I've always had XP Home. (Would this have
> anything to do with my using .NET framework?)
>
> However, when I go into Security Center, it says my Firewall is On. When I
> call up the settings on my connections, it also says the Firewall is on for
> that connection. But there's another weird thing in there. It says that my
> Norton Internet Worm Protection is currently on. I used Norton AV, much to my
> regret, some months ago and got rid of it and have been using AVG since.
> Though while uninstalling Norton it was a battle to get rid of it, and it
> didn't go quietly. Apparently it left something behind and I can't find it,
> unless there's something hidden good somehwere in the registry.
>
> Anyone have any thoughts on how to fix this thing with my Firewall, and get
> rid of this Norton Internet Worm Protection thing?
Start by getting Security Center to see the correct information:
Start>Run>cmd [enter]
net stop winmgmt [enter]
cd /d %windir%\system32\wbem [enter]
ren repository repository.old [enter]
net start winmgmt [enter]
It may take a minute or so to complete while WMI rebuilds the database.
Once that is done, Security Center should report your correct antivirus
and the correct status of the Firewall. You didn't tell us what
antivirus protection you are using and that makes a difference. If you
are using OneCare for instance, it will turn the Windows Firewall off. I
understand that you have tried many different procedures, but without
knowing what they were I can't comment on them. I will risk repeating
what you have already done because I prefer to be thorough. Check
solutions at these links:
"Malke" <notreally@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:eU2Pg561HHA.2752@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Alex wrote:
>> Another small problem that's been annoying me for a while - my Windows
>> Firewall got messed up at some point. When I click on Windows Firewall it
>> shows it as Off and everything is grayed out with the message at the top
>> that says: For your security, some settings are controlled by group
>> policy. Going through Help looking up this Group Policy thing was nothing
>> but a headache. It listed procedures that I've tried and can't run,
>> specifically it said they were for Win XP PRO only, and I've always had
>> XP Home. (Would this have anything to do with my using .NET framework?)
>>
>> However, when I go into Security Center, it says my Firewall is On. When
>> I call up the settings on my connections, it also says the Firewall is on
>> for that connection. But there's another weird thing in there. It says
>> that my Norton Internet Worm Protection is currently on. I used Norton
>> AV, much to my regret, some months ago and got rid of it and have been
>> using AVG since. Though while uninstalling Norton it was a battle to get
>> rid of it, and it didn't go quietly. Apparently it left something behind
>> and I can't find it, unless there's something hidden good somehwere in
>> the registry.
>>
>> Anyone have any thoughts on how to fix this thing with my Firewall, and
>> get rid of this Norton Internet Worm Protection thing?
>
> Start by getting Security Center to see the correct information:
>
> Start>Run>cmd [enter]
> net stop winmgmt [enter]
> cd /d %windir%\system32\wbem [enter]
> ren repository repository.old [enter]
> net start winmgmt [enter]
>
> It may take a minute or so to complete while WMI rebuilds the database.
>
> Once that is done, Security Center should report your correct antivirus
> and the correct status of the Firewall. You didn't tell us what antivirus
> protection you are using and that makes a difference. If you are using
> OneCare for instance, it will turn the Windows Firewall off. I understand
> that you have tried many different procedures, but without knowing what
> they were I can't comment on them. I will risk repeating what you have
> already done because I prefer to be thorough. Check solutions at these
> links:
>
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/resetfwpol.htm
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/sharedaccess.htm
>
> Solutions are provided for XP Home, too.
>
> Here is a TechNet article on which services are dependent on Windows
> Firewall:
> http://tinyurl.com/yqjky3
>
> And of course, if your computer was infected damage may have been done by
> malware.
>
>
In addition, it maybe beneficial to apply Nortons uninstall tool to remove
leftovers. http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...05033108162039
Malke <notreally@invalid.invalid> wrote in
news:eU2Pg561HHA.2752@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:
> Start by getting Security Center to see the correct information:
>
> Start>Run>cmd [enter]
> net stop winmgmt [enter]
> cd /d %windir%\system32\wbem [enter]
> ren repository repository.old [enter]
> net start winmgmt [enter]
>
> It may take a minute or so to complete while WMI rebuilds the database.
>
> Once that is done, Security Center should report your correct antivirus
> and the correct status of the Firewall. You didn't tell us what
> antivirus protection you are using and that makes a difference. If you
> are using OneCare for instance, it will turn the Windows Firewall off. I
> understand that you have tried many different procedures, but without
> knowing what they were I can't comment on them. I will risk repeating
> what you have already done because I prefer to be thorough. Check
> solutions at these links:
>
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/resetfwpol.htm
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/sharedaccess.htm
>
> Solutions are provided for XP Home, too.
>
> Here is a TechNet article on which services are dependent on Windows
> Firewall:
> http://tinyurl.com/yqjky3
>
> And of course, if your computer was infected damage may have been done
> by malware.
>
>
> Malke
Malke,
Well, the link to http://windowsxp.mvps.org/resetfwpol.htm provided the
information I needed. Easy procedure, deleting the windowsfirewall key
(always backup before deleting) under software/policies and a restart worked.
It restored my firewall settings so they're not greyed out anymore and the
group policy message is gone. As for the last vestiges of Norton being gone,
I still feel part of it is still lurking around somewhere. **** stubborn
program, just as bad as any malware. :-)
> Malke,
>
> Well, the link to http://windowsxp.mvps.org/resetfwpol.htm provided the
> information I needed. Easy procedure, deleting the windowsfirewall key
> (always backup before deleting) under software/policies and a restart worked.
> It restored my firewall settings so they're not greyed out anymore and the
> group policy message is gone. As for the last vestiges of Norton being gone,
> I still feel part of it is still lurking around somewhere. **** stubborn
> program, just as bad as any malware. :-)
>
> Alex
Glad that sorted it for you. Thanks for taking the time to post back.
Alex wrote:
> Another small problem that's been annoying me for a while - my Windows
> Firewall got messed up at some point. When I click on Windows Firewall it
> shows it as Off and everything is grayed out with the message at the top that
> says: For your security, some settings are controlled by group policy. Going
> through Help looking up this Group Policy thing was nothing but a headache.
> It listed procedures that I've tried and can't run, specifically it said they
> were for Win XP PRO only, and I've always had XP Home. (Would this have
> anything to do with my using .NET framework?)
>
> However, when I go into Security Center, it says my Firewall is On. When I
> call up the settings on my connections, it also says the Firewall is on for
> that connection. But there's another weird thing in there. It says that my
> Norton Internet Worm Protection is currently on. I used Norton AV, much to my
> regret, some months ago and got rid of it and have been using AVG since.
> Though while uninstalling Norton it was a battle to get rid of it, and it
> didn't go quietly. Apparently it left something behind and I can't find it,
> unless there's something hidden good somehwere in the registry.
>
> Anyone have any thoughts on how to fix this thing with my Firewall, and get
> rid of this Norton Internet Worm Protection thing?
>
> Alex
You're mad to trust anything from micro****. Get an alternative firewall
now (Zonealarm do a good free one).
WinXP Home - Firewall Weirdness 
Linear Mode
