Verify that the Windows Firewall service is started and set to automatic.
You can use services.msc to see and modify services. Also use Event Viewer
to check the system and application logs to see if anything there is
recorded that may provide a clue. You may also want to reset tcp/ip as
described in the link below if the problem is not related to a
stopped/disabled service. By the way I would not rely on the Windows
Firewall or any software firewall alone to protect your computers from the
internet. Assuming that you will be using cable/DSL be sure to use at least
one of those NAT router devices such as those you see from Netgear, Linksys,
D-Link to also protect your network. These can be purchased for as little as
$19 after rebates from Best Buy, etc. If the budget allows I would use a
more full featured firewall that can have a default block all outbound rule
such as from Sonic Wall, etc though those will run around $600 for an
unlimited connection version or around $300 for a 25 user connection
mit. --- Steve
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833122007 --- a
decent budget firewall.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299357 --- reset
tcp/ip with netsh in XP
"mfauber" <mfauber DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BE3D4A7E-F3EB-4E20-A909-C0F65E07EAAB@microsoft.com...
>I installed SP2 on several of our church stsrems ( in preparation to allow
> them to access the internet ). Once SP2 was installed, the firewall could
> be
> "turned on" on all but one system. When I try to enable the firewall I
> get
> a message "We're sorry. The Security Center could not turn on Windows
> Firewall." It suggests that I turn on the firewall myself by goint to
> "Control Panel" > "Windows Firewall". But when I tried the options for
> turning on the firewall are not active ( greyed out ).
>
> Any thoughts on what I can do?
>
> Mike Fauber >> Stay informed about: Windows XP Firewall