unable to start windows firewall

[Karagich]

I assembled a computer from scratch. I loaded WindowsXP home (not sp2). I went online and updated all of the windows files and added SP2. I believe that I may have picked up a bug during the time I was online with microsoft. Now when I am online I noticed when I watch my windows connection status after 10 or 15 minutes online the bytes sent side will take off and the bytes recieved side will slow to a crawl. If I log off then reconnect all is fast for 10 minutes then the bytes sent takes off again.
I have spent many hours on your site. I have downloaded (on another computer) all of the recomended software removed java, and installed sun java and run the scans and checks that are possible.The only hit I get is spybot:
- Windows security center.antivirusnotify
- Windows security center.antivirusoverride
- Windows security center.firewallnotify
- Windows security center.firewalldisable
- Windows security center.sp2udate
- Windows security center.updatedisablenotify
I have spybot fix the problem and it returns. I have gone into the registry and manually changed the settings at these locations to match those of my other computer. They all change back.
Currently I cant turn on windows firewall (on is greyed out) I installed zone alarm but I couldn't get it upgraded before the bytes sent took over bandwidth. same with panda scan. I cant get the "get key zip" or "showview.zip" to download I just get a .htm file
Does this sound like a virus?

[chaslang]

Originally Posted by Karagich

The only hit I get is spybot:
- Windows security center.antivirusnotify
- Windows security center.antivirusoverride
- Windows security center.firewallnotify
- Windows security center.firewalldisable
- Windows security center.sp2udate
- Windows security center.updatedisablenotify
I have spybot fix the problem and it returns.

These are actually not problems. They are more of a warning to indicate that you are not using the Windows defaults. Have you installed your own antivirus program or internet security suite type of application? If so which one? Does it also have its own firewall?

Originally Posted by Karagich

Currently I cant turn on windows firewall (on is greyed out) I installed zone alarm but I couldn't get it upgraded before the bytes sent took over bandwidth.

If you have another firewall installed (yet to be determined) you should not be enabling Windows' firewall as your other firewall disabled it to avoid a conflict.

Originally Posted by Karagich

I cant get the "get key zip" or "showview.zip" to download I just get a .htm file

I'm not sure what you mean. What htm file? Can you download/click on other links (like other tools in the READ ME) and get them to download?

[Karagich]

Originally Posted by chaslang

These are actually not problems. They are more of a warning to indicate that you are not using the Windows defaults. Have you installed your own antivirus program or internet security suite type of application? If so which one? Does it also have its own firewall?

I have installed Avast and it is current.

Originally Posted by chaslang

If you have another firewall installed (yet to be determined) you should not be enabling Windows' firewall as your other firewall disabled it to avoid a conflict.

I tried zone alarm but it blocked so many processes that I couldn't continue with any upgrades. I tried adding the url's to the safe list, but each website has dozens of urls included in it. Then found a program that would completely uninstall all zone alarm components. I downloaded Sygate but havn't installed it yet. The computer has not been online since I scanned everything. Which is better in your opinion Sygate or Zone Alarm.

Originally Posted by chaslang

I'm not sure what you mean. What htm file? Can you download/click on other links (like other tools in the READ ME) and get them to download?

When I click the "get notes.zip" link the download begins and appears in download manager. the file that is downloaded is attachment.htm. It is a screen copy of the name, password logon screen. All other links work perfectly. Only those 2 zip links gave me grief.

Thanks a gig for the help.
I have found many instances of the greyed out firewall screen and dozens of fixes, none of which have worked.

[chaslang]

Originally Posted by Karagich

I have installed Avast and it is current.

Then it is your security center not windows and some of those items Spybot notified you of should be disable because you are using Avast.

Originally Posted by Karagich

I tried zone alarm but it blocked so many processes that I couldn't continue with any upgrades. I tried adding the url's to the safe list, but each website has dozens of urls included in it.

It sounds like you were not doing something properly. ZoneAlarm firewall will only warn you about incoming and outgoing processes. It will not normally block URLs. Are you talking about ZoneAlarm firewall or are you referring to ZoneAlarm's Internet Security Suite. With any good firewall (which the Windows Firewall is not), the end user has to take the time to configure things properly and this does require some reading and learning by the end user. It is necessary for your security. When you buy a PC, you must become a little bit of a system administrator. It cannot be helped.

Originally Posted by Karagich

I downloaded Sygate but havn't installed it yet. The computer has not been online since I scanned everything. Which is better in your opinion Sygate or Zone Alarm.

Hands down ZoneAlarm is better. Sygate has not been supported nor updated in years. Either way, if you have ZoneAlarm or Sygate installed then the Windows firewall would and should be disabled.

Originally Posted by Karagich

When I click the "get notes.zip" link the download begins and appears in download manager.

I assume you mean GetRunKey.zip????

Originally Posted by Karagich

the file that is downloaded is attachment.htm. It is a screen copy of the name, password logon screen.

This does not sound like you are actually downloading the file. It sounds like you are not logged into Major Geeks anymore and are getting prompted for the Login and Password again. You must make sure that when you login to MGs you check the box that says Remember Me.

[Karagich]

Thanks again for your time.
Now I understand the Windows security programs shouldn't run with other security software.

My original concern stemmed from the windows connection status. After a 10 or so minutes online the bytes sent would accelerate greatly and the bytes recieved would slow to a trickle. This caused me to check the Windows firewall and notice it to be greyed out.

This realization occured before I ever installed Avast or Zone Alarm; but after SP2 installed.

I dial up with MSN. The computer was exposed for a long time downloading updates and SP2.

The only software on the machine was Windows XP.

I downloaded all of the microsoft security updates as well as SP2.

While performing simple online tasks (checking mail etc..) I noticed movement between pages was very slow (minutes). I checked the connection status and saw an increase in outgoing bytes. If I disconnected from the net then reconnected. I could continue at a normal pace for 10 minutes then outgoing bytes would increase and recieved bytes would slow.

Thinking I had a problem I installed Avast, and Zone Alarm (the zip I used was version 6.5.737.0). I was unable to update Zone Alarm because of the bytes sent issue. I run the newest Zone Alarm on my other computer and it is completely different from the version I had problems with. I went to Zone Alarm to download a current version and all they had was a 4k zip installer file. I assume if I use the installer file the computer will goto Zone Alarm. com and get the rest of the firewall. I am concerned with being exposed without a firewall during the download, knowing Windows firewall wont initialize.

Finally your instructions on the "getrunkey" worked perfectly. I was not checking "remember me" However when I was trying previously, the Log In screen did appear when I clicked on the zip on MG's page and I reentered my log in info. Apparently I wasn't actually being logged in from MG's page.
Sorry about the length, I'm trying to be more precise.
Thanks

[chaslang]

Okay are your going to attach any logs from the READ & RUN ME so we can check for malware? Or do you feel that you are not having any malware problems?

Note: The Windows XP SP2 firewall is an incoming only firewall (one reason why we say it is inadequate) and will not block outgoing stuff anyway.