Hi, having a problem within my domain - recently upgraded last w2k client to XP. The firewall is on but appears to be taking its setting from a group policy on the windows 2003 server as i cannot disable, but having checked the server there is no policy configured for firewall. Strangely, event viewer keeps throwing out that the group policy cannot be updated. The upgraded machine has certain files on that we access from across the network (I did not want to put them on the server). Since the upgrade, connecting to the client to access these files is very slow and has also blocked one client from accessing these files, yet. Additionally, I have been unable to activate XP and only have a few days to go (because I cannot get the activation screen up) - can this be the firewall? I have AVG across the network but it has not blocked before so doubt it is this? Just whilst I am on, can I also double check my WINS settings. I have my server on the default Netbios setting, do I leave the default setting for the clients also. I have no NT or earlier on the network but are these settings for outside computers connecting to the network i.e. via email etc. Sorry to sound naive but sometimes it might be the simple things i am overlooking. thanks K

please do the following listed below to configure you firewall for default settings and for the activation you may contact the win xp forums http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroups.mspx http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itproxpsp/threads Method 2: For Windows XP Professional Click Start, Run and type Gpedit.msc Navigate to the following branch: Computer Configuration => Administrative Templates ==> Network ===> Network Connections ====> Windows Firewall =====> Standard Profile Set the following options to Not Configured (defaults) Windows Firewall: Protect all network connections Windows Firewall: Do not allow exceptions Windows Firewall: Define program exceptions Windows Firewall: Allow local program exceptions Windows Firewall: Allow remote administration exception Windows Firewall: Allow file and printer sharing exception Windows Firewall: Allow ICMP exceptions Windows Firewall: Allow Remote Desktop exception Windows Firewall: Allow UPnP framework exception Windows Firewall: Prohibit notifications Windows Firewall: Allow logging Windows Firewall: Prohibit unicast response to multicast or broadcast requests Windows Firewall: Define port exceptions Windows Firewall: Allow local port exceptions Exit Group Policy editor. http://www.virmansec.com/blogs/skhairuddin

they already are set to that - i have checked