[Michelle]

Go into the Control Panel
Double-click on Network Connections.
Right-click your default Internet Connection and go to properties.
Click the advanced tab. Does it just give you a "settings" button to view Firewall settings or is there any place to put a check to turn it on?

I'll be back in just a little while with a couple of things for you to do

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Then please do this for me:

Go to start > run. Copy and Paste this into the box:

regedit /e c:\winfire.txt "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall"

Click OK.

Now, using Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\winfire.txt Open it and copy what it says and paste it here. If you can not find winfire.txt on your C: drive then that key doesn't exist which is fine

[Michelle]

Then please do this for me:

Go to start > run. Copy and Paste this into the box:

regedit /e c:\winfire.txt "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall"

Click OK.

Now, using Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\winfire.txt Open it and copy what it says and paste it here. If you can not find winfire.txt on your C: drive then that key doesn't exist which is fine

[Lola712]

For my default connection, which is a wireless one, there is a Windows Firewall setting, but it still pops up with the same message "Due to an unidentified problem, Windows cannot display the Firewall settings".

This is the file from c:\winfire.txt:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\DomainProfile]
"EnableFirewall"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\StandardProfile]
"EnableFirewall"=dword:00000000

[Michelle]

Ok, your firewall has been disabled by a restriction set in the registry. We'll take care of that little problem, then see what else we need to do

Please download fixfirewall.zip from here:  fixfirewall.zip   247bytes   393 downloads

Unzip it to your desktop. Double-click fixfirewall.reg and when asked if you want to merge with the registry click YES.

Reboot your computer and see if it will allow you to access your firewall settings, if not we will need to fix a registry key that deals with the firewall service

[Lola712]

I'm afraid it still doesn't let me access Firewall settings.

[Michelle]

I figured it wouldn't, but at least now it will be enabled when we finally fix it

First, I need you to backup your registry.

Go to Start > Run - type:

regedit

Click OK.

When you get into the registry, on the leftside, click My Computer at the top. Then go up to "File > Export" Make sure in that window there is a tick next to "All" under Export Branch. Leave the Save As Type as "Registration Files", then save it as backup to a convenient location. Remember where you put it (I don't recommend putting it on the desktop, though) This is so the registry can be restored to this point should anything be deleted by accident or something else happens. It may take a minute. Just let it do it

Then, please download firewall.zip from here:  firewall.zip   1.29KB   405 downloads

Unzip it to your desktop. Double-click firewall.reg When asked if you want to merge with the registry click YES.

After the merged successfully prompt, reboot and let me know

Also, after reboot, go to Start > Run type services.msc and see if Windows Firewall is now in there. If it is and not started, please start it and change it to automatic.

[Lola712]

Ok my firewall is now up. Seems to be working fine. I think that's the last of it.

Thank you so much for your time and help!!

[Michelle]

Well, that's great news! It was a slightly modified export from my registry, so I was hoping it would work! You're very welcome, I'm happy I could help

Congratulations your log is clean! Great job on the clean up

I recommend checking the http://www.microsoft.com website periodically for critical updates to install.

Here are some tips, to reduce the potential for spyware infection in the future, I strongly recommend installing the following applications:

Ewido Security Suite <= Protection against Trojans, Worms, Dialers, Hijackers, Spyware, and Keyloggers.

Detect and Remove Programs:

• How to use Ad-Aware to remove Spyware <= If you suspect that you have spyware installed on your computer, here are instructions on how to download, install and then use Ad-Aware.
• How to use Spybot to remove Spyware <= If you suspect that you have spyware installed on your computer, here are instructions on how to download, install and then use Spybot. Similar to Ad-Aware, I strongly recommend both to catch most spyware.

Prevention Programs:

• Spywareblaster <= SpywareBlaster will prevent spyware from being installed. Once it's installed, open it and click "enabl all protection" You won't ever know it's there! You'll just need to open the program to check for updates every once in a while.
• Spywareguard <= SpywareGuard offers realtime protection from spyware installation attempts.
• MVPS Hosts file <= The MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one containing well known ad sites etc. Basically, this prevents your computer from connecting to those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is your local computer

[Michelle]

You had a bunch of stuff hiding in System Restore (most of what Ewido found), so you'll want to clear restore points to give your system a fresh start on System Restore:

1. Turn off System Restore.
On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
Click Properties.
Click the System Restore tab.
Check Turn off System Restore.
Click Apply, and then click OK.

2. Reboot.

3. Turn ON System Restore.
On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
Click Properties.
Click the System Restore tab.
UN-Check Turn off System Restore.
Click Apply, and then click OK.

And you're good to go!

[Michelle]

Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed. Glad we could help.

If you're the topic starter, and need this topic reopened, please contact a staff member with the address of the thread.

Everyone else please begin a New Topic.