windows firewall problem
Hi, I have acomputer (my personal laptop) that is running on vista home premium and I use a linksys WAP in my home. My windows firewall has somehow been disabled and I can't turn it back on. If I try to turn it on in the security center it says "security center can not turn on windows firewall." Then underneath in smaller print it says "turn on firewall manually" so I click that. It brings me directly to the windows firewall window and it says that the firewall is not running, and also it has a little yellow exclamation point and says that it isn't using the recommended settings to protect my computer. Off to the side it says "Update settings now", but when I click on that is says "windows firewall is not able to make the requested updates." I think that I have tried every option to try to turn it back on and It will not turn on. I am on the admistrator account and I even tried to right click and select run as admin. and it still will not turn on. How can I either fix the problem or just atleast get it to stay on??
September 11th, 2008 7:45pm

Hi Do you have any other software installed that contains a firewall? Many times, the third party firewall will disable the Windows Firewall because of compatibility issues. If not, perform the following. Go to Control Panel / Administrative Tools. Select the Services component. In Services, scroll down to 'Windows Firewall' and double click. In the Startup menu, select 'Automatic'. Click the Start Button. Try accessing the Firewall again. If this also does not work, run a complete Virus and Spyware scan with the installed anti virus software. Let us know. If this post helps to resolve your issue, click the Mark as Answer or Helpful button at the top of this message.By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster. Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience
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September 13th, 2008 7:27am

I don't have any other program that has a firewall on it. Recently I downloaded the microsoft malicious software removaltool ( don't know if that has a firewall on it). But besides that windows firewall is all that I have. So I gave what you said a try.When I went into the firewall services properties it was it was already set to start automatically but it was stopped. When I tried to start it an error came up that said " Windows could not start the service on local computer. Error 1068:The dependancy service or group failed to start." Also, I am positive that I didn't put another firewall or anything on my computer but how can I check if there is another program with some type of firewall?? Thanks for all your help,
September 13th, 2008 8:19pm

user="shaggysbc"] I don't have any other program that has a firewall on it. Recently I downloaded the microsoft malicious software removaltool ( don't know if that has a firewall on it). But besides that windows firewall is all that I have. So I gave what you said a try.When I went into the firewall services properties it was it was already set to start automatically but it was stopped. When I tried to start it an error came up that said " Windows could not start the service on local computer. Error 1068:The dependancy service or group failed to start." Also, I am positive that I didn't put another firewall or anything on my computer but how can I check if there is another program with some type of firewall?? Thanks for all your help, Hi The only type of program that might have a firewall included would be security related or a program that is specifically a firewall. Products like Norton internet security suite, McAfee security suite, AVG Suite, or something similar. If you do not have a third party firewall product, perform the following. 1. Open Control Panel, select 'Classic View' in the Tasks pane on the left side. Double click the Device Manager icon. Click the View menu and select the 'Devices by connection' option. Click the View menu again and select the'Show hidden devices' option. Scroll down to the 'Firewall Authorization Driver' item. There should be an icon in front of that item with a 'gold gear'. Double click that item, select the Driver tab andmake sure the Startup Type is set to 'Demand'. 2. In Control Panel, select Administrative Tools / Services. In Services, check the following. Double click the 'Base Filtering Engine' service. Make sure it is set to 'Automatic' in the Startup type. Double click the 'Windows Event Collector' service. Make sure it is set to 'Automatic' in the Startup type. Double click the 'Windows Event Log' service. Make sure it is set to 'Automatic' in the Startup type. Double click the 'Windows Firewall' service. Make sure it is set to 'Automatic' in the Startup type. Exit everything and reboot the computer. Check the Firewall again. Let us know the results. If this post helps to resolve your issue, click the Mark as Answer or Helpful button at the top of this message.By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster. Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience
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September 13th, 2008 9:55pm

I tried all the steps and I came up with no change. I did notice that in the device manager the icon next to the "windows firewall authorization driver" does have a page with gears but there is an yellow exclaimation point in the icon. When I look at the properties under the general tab in the text box it says this "This device is not present, is not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed. (Code 24)" and it askes if I want to check for solutions but when I click the check for solutions button nothing happens. Do I need to update that driver or is there a capatibilty issue with some of my software.I appreciate all the help in fixing this problem. It worked fine before a few weeks ago, and I even checked in my windows updater to see if there was a recent security update for the program but nothing checks out.Thanks again for all you help.
September 16th, 2008 10:34pm

Hi The Firewall Authorization Driver (mdsdrv.sys) is a protected windows system file. You can run the System File Checker tool and if the file is found to be corrupted, it will be replaced. Follow these steps carefully. Go to Start / All Programs / Accessories. Right click the 'Command Prompt' item and select the 'Run As Administrator' option. Click 'Continue' on the UAC prompt. In the command window type the following command. SFC /SCANNOW Press ENTER. This will take a few minutes to complete. Try not to use the computer while SFC is running. After the tool is finished, reboot the computer andcheck the Firewall options again. Let me know the results. If this post helps to resolve your issue, click the Mark as Answer or Helpful button at the top of this message.By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster. Ronnie Vernon Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience
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September 17th, 2008 1:14am

I tried running the tool but it gets to about 93% of the verification process and then says that "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation." Then it lists the command prompt again.
September 18th, 2008 1:42am

Hello sorry that took the opportunity from this fellow problem to address to you but I have much the same problem with windows firewall I use my home pc with vista and suddenly I saw in the bar downside the icon that my firewall is down I tried to fix it but the buttong of making it on was unabled (grey) and there was a yellow phrase on the top saying "For your security some setttings are controlled by Group Policy" As I told you I use my pc from my home and I have a broadband conection ADSL 24M I tried all the things that you recomended and on the last sfc/scannow I had the below results Verification 100% complete Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was Unable to fix some of them Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. Another thing that I noticed is that two files WatchNow and Directory was created when I reboot my system Please help me I dont want to format again all my system Thanks and sorry for my english I come from Greece Harry
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October 19th, 2008 11:06am

Any update on this? I have the same situation but my case I can't find the FirewallAuthorization Driverunder Device by Connection. Aslo I have error that can't be repaired when I did the sfc /scannow. Pls help. Thanks.
November 18th, 2008 3:55am

ok sry to bug u guys but i am having a problem with my fire wall though not the same as these 2. i am able to access my explorer browser for the internet fine but when i try to play my warcraft game on the battle net server it says i do not have connection or that i may need to connect manually and so i called blizzard thinking that it may be the battle.net system itself but they ran me through some steps to see if they could help me fix my problem and they couldnt so i was wondering if any1 here could help me i tried turning off all my firewalls to start the game to see if that was the problem but it did not work i dont know if maybe there is a firewall that im not seeing or what so any help would be appreciated
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November 18th, 2008 7:16am

Hello Ronnie, i follwed your instructions and it resolved the problem on my PC.. thanks
July 30th, 2009 7:37am

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