Can't turn on Windows Firewall

Tony D

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Working on a W7 Home Premium, 64-bit. It had McAfee Security Center from AOL. The McAfee firewall wasn't on. I couldn't turn it on. I couldn't turn Windows firewall on.

Uninstalled McAfee Security Center. Still couldn't turn the Windows firewall on.
Ran the McAfee removal tool (MCPR). Still couldn't turn the Windows firewall on.

Ran the MS Fix it tool. That says a group policy or McAfee is preventing the Windows firewall from turning on.

See attached file.
 

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Hi Tony.
I read this. You can reverse if it doesn't work.

The registry key you want to target is

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\

Make the DWord = 0.
 
Thanks Dougie,

My weakness will show here - in the registry.
The only thing in there is
(default) REG_SZ (value not set)

Do you make a new D-Word?
Do you modify the Value (default) so that there is a value in the Value Data field?
 
Hi Tony. You said the McAfee firewall wasn't on so can't see how that could be the issue.

In the image I posted and stop when you highlite firewall, are your entries the same? You went too far.

You can disable group policy and see if that works.

http://www.computerstepbystep.com/group_policy_windows_7.html

2 more things I would try
Use the program "Everything" by void tools and remove every McAfee entry on the computer.
If there is an entry that won't remove then use an unlocker
Run sfc /scannow to make sure system files are intact.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Dougie, The link you send doesn't help because gpedit.msc is missing. Also MMC is missing in the Registry.

Sfc /scannow got to 61%, then received message that Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation. Was able to repeat it.
 
The only thing in FirewallPolicy, Restricted Services, and in Static is the line
(default) REG_SZ (value not set)

There a sub folder under Static called System. It has four entries called clr_optimization ...... all seem to be .Net-related.
 
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