[solved] winxp sp2 windows firewall won't shut off

[flamenco]

Hi,
Hoping you smart people will have some ideas on this. I tried this question in another forum but was told I was off-topic.

I have an R61i with WinXP SP2. I wanted to use the Comodo Firewall, and it installed fine. Then I tried to disable the Windows Firewall. But it returns whenever I reboot.

I figured out how to stop the Firewall service, but this also nuked Internet Connection Sharing, which I would like to use.

Is there, by chance, some other thing that starts with Windows on these R61i laptops that would re-enable the Windows Firewall?

Any ideas appreciated!
Thanks.

[Wiz]

Is this computer member of a domain?

[flamenco]

Is this computer member of a domain?

Hmmm... I don't know. My knowledge of networking is near zero, just so you know.

I do have 2 computers in a small home office network, and they get to the Internet through a router and a cable modem. We share files with each other, and a printer. With my previous PC I had never bothered with a firewall before because of the router's security features. Now I care about using a firewall because this is a laptop and I will be using it all over.

btw, another question I've never really found a good answer to is whether I should care if there are 2 firewalls running. Windows, of course, says it's bad.

These Lenovo's come with tons of software that runs upon Windows startup, and I was hoping that somebody would know that Program A causes the Windows Firewall to remain.

For instance, one suspect is Network Magic, which when I bring it up, it wants you to run an install.

And then there the very annoying Think Vantage Password Manager, which now that I removed my Windows password, prompts me for the "changed password" every time I boot, and whether I click OK or Cancel it always appears. But that's off-topic, I guess.

Thanks

[BillMorrow]

welcome to the planetwide thinkpad community..

none of that is off topic in this confrence..

others here will have more help for you but i think i would have deinstalled windows firewall before installing another firewall..

also, does the install instructions for comodo firewall say anything about removing other firewall products before installing comodo.?

[Wiz]

I do have 2 computers in a small home office network, and they get to the Internet through a router and a cable modem. We share files with each other, and a printer. With my previous PC I had never bothered with a firewall before because of the router's security features. Now I care about using a firewall because this is a laptop and I will be using it all over.

If this is a small home network i doubt the computer is member of a domain. If the computer is a member of a domain then you need a server as well setup as a domain controller. I was just asking since when the computer is member of a domain the administrator might use GPO to force the firewall to be enabled. Unless you or someone else (like the IT dep. where you work) added this PC to a domain it's not member of a domain.

btw, another question I've never really found a good answer to is whether I should care if there are 2 firewalls running. Windows, of course, says it's bad.

I would not recommend to use 2 firewalls on the same computer since they might conflict and cause problems like unstability, strange results and might even do the opposite of securing your computer. To use 2 firewalls on the same computer you should know exactly what you are doing and know for sure they are working together. I cannot see a good reason for doing that though.

These Lenovo's come with tons of software that runs upon Windows startup, and I was hoping that somebody would know that Program A causes the Windows Firewall to remain.

I do not use Access Connections anymore, but if i remember correctly there is a option in AC to enable/disable the firewall when a profile is applied. You could try to disable AC, change the profile or just uninstall to see if that fix the problem. To change this setting you need to edit the profile and there should be a security button somewhere. When you click the security button you should have the option to enable/disable the firewall i think. It's some time since i used AC, but i do believe there is such a setting.
In case you wonder AC is a program that can be used for your wireless profiles instead of the Windows built-in WLAN support. AC also have some additional feature, but to use a computer at home you most likely don't need it. Someone prefer AC and some not.

And then there the very annoying Think Vantage Password Manager, which now that I removed my Windows password, prompts me for the "changed password" every time I boot, and whether I click OK or Cancel it always appears. But that's off-topic, I guess.

You can disable the password manager if you start Client Security Solution or you can uninstall Client Security Solution if you don't need it at all. I tried Password Manager for a while, but had some issues so stopped using it. I agree that the Thinkpads is filled with software and i find some useful and some not. That's why i always do a clean install when i get a new Thinkpad and install only the things i need.

Regarding the off topic: This is a thread you started and you can ask whatever you want. When you reply to a thread started by someone else and ask a question that is not related to the topic the thread might change into something completely different. The starter of the thread might not appreciate that unless his/her problem is solved. I'm not a mod/admin here so cannot tell you what to do.....it was just a friendly advice.

[flamenco]

I do not use Access Connections anymore, but if i remember correctly there is a option in AC to enable/disable the firewall when a profile is applied. You could try to disable AC, change the profile or just uninstall to see if that fix the problem. To change this setting you need to edit the profile and there should be a security button somewhere. When you click the security button you should have the option to enable/disable the firewall i think. It's some time since i used AC, but i do believe there is such a setting.

Wiz, I dug into Access Connections, and there it was, a setting to enable Windows Firewall! I never thought to look in there. Turned that off, and that stopped the Windows Firewall from coming back from the dead! It's no wonder the Comodo guys didn't have a clue. Just as your nickname indicates, you're a "Wiz", and I'm guessing that's probably in your 2nd or 3rd language. Very nice job.

I also went into Client Security Solution, and found a place to disable the Password Manager, but strangely enough, it came up again on reboot anyway. I finally went into MSCONFIG, and just disabled CSS from starting, along with some other crud that's evidently advertising to buy various software. All fixed.

I think I'll keep Access Connections running... I'm new to laptop and Wireless use, and this should allow me to do it lazily, and I have tons of RAM, too.

So all is well, and thanks again!!!
Flamenco