firewall woes

  • Thread starter Thread starter jankin
  • Start date Start date
J

jankin

when logged on as an adminstrator, I can turn on the firwall, and
have to do so every time I turn the machine on. When I log on as a
user, it is OFF, and I can't turn it on (insufficient privelegdes).
This makes no sense. How do I keep the firewall turned on by
default, but allow both admins and users to temproarily disable it?

- elmar
 
You can make user have the right of the adminstrator by GROUP PLOICY!
Click to expand...

That defeats the entire reason to have user accounts and to disable
administrator accounts (security). How can I keep the firewall
enabled for users, please?
 
when logged on as an adminstrator, I can turn on the firwall, and
have to do so every time I turn the machine on. When I log on as a
user, it is OFF, and I can't turn it on (insufficient privelegdes).
This makes no sense. How do I keep the firewall turned on by
default, but allow both admins and users to temproarily disable it?
Click to expand...

Once set by an administrator account, a firewall should stay on regardless
of who's logged on. What firewall are you using? Is there another user on
this system that would turn off the firewall and then log off without
turning it back on again?
 
Once set by an administrator account, a firewall should stay on regardless
of who's logged on. What firewall are you using? Is there another user on
this system that would turn off the firewall and then log off without
turning it back on again?
Click to expand...
It wont' stay seyt - I am the only user (I am setting up this
machine, so I have both admin accounts and user accounts). I turen
the firewall on, and then log ogg, and logon to the user, and the
firewall is OFF again.

- elmar
 
It wont' stay seyt - I am the only user (I am setting up this
machine, so I have both admin accounts and user accounts). I turen
the firewall on, and then log ogg, and logon to the user, and the
firewall is OFF again.

- elmar
Click to expand...

Set the firewall from the admin account. Just for grins, log off and then
log on to the administrator account again. Once that is successful, then
try logging on with a limited user account.

This is XP's firewall, isn't it? Or is it a different one? The installation
of some software firewalls will turn off XP's firewall. If they do not
communicate correctly with the security center in SP2, it may appear that
the firewall is off when it isn't.
 
....
Set the firewall from the admin account. Just for grins, log off and then
log on to the administrator account again. Once that is successful, then
try logging on with a limited user account.
Click to expand...


Just for grins (as you say), I did this. I logged on as admin, and
the firewall was OFF. I hit "manage firewall" from the security
center, and turned it on. Then I logged off. I immediately logged
back on again, and hit the startbar icon for the security center as
soon as it appeared (partway through booting the desktop). The
firewall came up labelled ON, then immediately switched to OFF! Now
riddle me this one, Mr. Holmes!
This is XP's firewall, isn't it?
Click to expand...

Yes - this is the built-in firewall with default settings. I don't
even have another one resident on the machine, although I'm seriously
considering it, based on how this one is (mis-)behaving.

- elmar
 
Just for grins (as you say), I did this. I logged on as admin, and
the firewall was OFF. I hit "manage firewall" from the security
center, and turned it on. Then I logged off. I immediately logged
back on again, and hit the startbar icon for the security center as
soon as it appeared (partway through booting the desktop). The
firewall came up labelled ON, then immediately switched to OFF! Now
riddle me this one, Mr. Holmes!
Click to expand...

Okay, this is what I was wondering -- whether the setting would "stick" for
your account at all. Worry about other accounts later. That the firewall
tried to run is a good sign. That it was then turned off, is not.

Not limited to the following but damage to system files or malware could be
causing this. Are other settings not sticking for your account? If no, this
is a common symptom seen with corrupt or infested accounts. Check the
system thoroughly for virus or other malware. Clean if found.

Determine if this is limited to your account only: Create a new account
with administrator status. Log on to it. Try setting the firewall. Restart
and log on again to see if the firewall remains in place. If the firewall
still fails, you'll need to look further:

How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434

Troubleshooting Windows Firewall settings in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357/

Temporary help: MVP Kelly Theriot has a script that corrects registry
entries that enable/disable the saving of a user's settings. After a system
is cleaned of malware, the registry settings may still need fixing and
that's what her .REG file does:
"Windows XP Doesn't Save User Settings" (line 30, left hand side)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Yes - this is the built-in firewall with default settings. I don't
even have another one resident on the machine, although I'm seriously
considering it, based on how this one is (mis-)behaving.
Click to expand...

Whether installing a new firewall will help might depend on why it's not
working. On the other hand, a nice plus to a third party firewall is that
it monitors outgoing traffic as well as incoming. XP's firewall monitors
incoming only.
 
....
Not limited to the following but damage to system files or malware could be
causing this. Are other settings not sticking for your account?
Click to expand...

Yes - desktop setting, etc. are all sticking and staying unique for
each user.
If no, this
is a common symptom seen with corrupt or infested accounts. Check the
system thoroughly for virus or other malware. Clean if found.
Click to expand...

Adaware, spybot and norton (all with latest updates) all pass the
system as clean.
Determine if this is limited to your account only: Create a new account
with administrator status. Log on to it. Try setting the firewall. Restart
and log on again to see if the firewall remains in place.
Click to expand...

Note that the default "Administrator" account is disabled (that's
just too easy of a name to leave hanging out there). I create a
differently named admin account to run the machine. I have just
created a new administrator (temp), logged on with it (default xp
interface appears), firewall is off. I enable it, then logoff.
relogon as temp and the firewall is OFF! So it still fails.
If the firewall
still fails, you'll need to look further:
Click to expand...

OK - I guess I'm off to these:
How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434

Troubleshooting Windows Firewall settings in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357/

Temporary help: MVP Kelly Theriot has a script that corrects registry
entries that enable/disable the saving of a user's settings. After a system
is cleaned of malware, the registry settings may still need fixing and
that's what her .REG file does:
"Windows XP Doesn't Save User Settings" (line 30, left hand side)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


Whether installing a new firewall will help might depend on why it's not
working. On the other hand, a nice plus to a third party firewall is that
it monitors outgoing traffic as well as incoming. XP's firewall monitors
incoming only.
Click to expand...

hmmm - good arguement. Part of it is my geekish desire that dang it
it SHOULD work. Then and only then can I evaluate it.

- elmar
 
hmmm - good arguement. Part of it is my geekish desire that dang it
it SHOULD work. Then and only then can I evaluate it.
Click to expand...

Same here. It's disturbing that it isn't. The firewall can be disabled by
installing other firewalls. By malware. And of course anything trying to
run with related files that are damaged won't work. When the files related
to just one function are AWOL/damaged, it usually circles back to malware
or third party firewall again.

The firewall article I posted a link to touches only briefly on problems
with the firewall working at all (and couldn't find any more t-shooting
articles on the subject) which tends to indicate that this is not a common
problem.

The only other variables left are: permissions and policies (which is one
of the reasons to try a new account) and some other damage to the system or
registry (difficult to track down unspecific errors that leave no specific
error information).
 
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