Re: XP Pro SP2 - Firewall Option Dimmed/ Greyed - Cannot Turn on

From: Malke (notreally_at_invalid.com)
Date: 10/31/05 

Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 05:50:33 -0800

Dennis wrote:

> Hi,
>
> My machine is running XP Pro SP2 with NO third party anti-virus
> protection program and not on any private network.
>
> Last couple of days I sorted out the Firewall option unintentionally
> disabled, then I checked the properties it prompted up "No ICS
> services blar blar blar" then I clicked "OK" and showed the Firewall
> turned off and all option buttons turned grey/dimmed. Nothing I can
> do.
>
> I've checked any hijack/ worm/ virus but nothing related to the
> captioned. I've also looked up previous posts regarding similar
> firewall problem and resolutions but no success at all.
>
> One more issue come up to my machine that has not been mentioned in
> previous post. The internet access for sure will suspended in 3 to 5
> minutes after boot up and before the suspension a DOS-based programme
> flashed up and terminated (and the connecting speed is slowwwww).
> The DOS exe file named USBUP???.exe will store in the installed
> windows root directory. When I open the exe, it was written something
> "Bandwidth excess".
>
> Then I thought would that be my ISP problem, I plugged in the LAN to
> my another computer, everything works fine (no connectivity problem,
> no firework auto turn off problem).

I can't believe you are surprised that your computer is messed up. You
aren't using any antivirus protection and you've been on the Internet
with a Windows machine for more than a few minutes. You mention not
having any "third-party antivirus" installed. There is no built-in
Windows antivirus, so this means you have *zero* protection.

You need to get that machine off the Internet and any lan and clean it
up immediately. Start by scanning with either Sysclean or Dave Lipman's
Multi-AV. Then get, install, and update a full-featured antivirus and
do a thorough scan with it in Safe Mode. Since you've not been
practicing Safe Hex at all, follow your virus-scanning with scans for
non-viral malware. If this sounds difficult (and there is no shame in
admitting that), take the machine to a professional computer repair
shop for cleanup (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA).

Instructions for Sysclean and other malware removal are here:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Instructions/download for Multi-AV are here:
http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm

Suggestions for practicing Safe Hex are here:
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html

Malke 

-- 
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User