hi BrokenEye,
1.) You've a paid version of IOBit? Then save the license and uninstall. Reboot. Any change? If not, do step # 2.
2.) You are also running Avast Internet Security? Then turn off the firewall in Internet Security if the uninstall of IOBit does not resolve your issue. Reboot.
See, this is a process of elimination of possible suspects re your issue. I understand that Windows Firewall appears to not be running, hence your concern, and rightfully so. However, AIS comes with a firewall, but the current version does not support IPv6 protocols, and Win 7 firewall does. This is why AIS firewall is designed to be compatible with Windows Firewall, and Windows Firewall provides support for the newest IPv6 protocols, whereas AIS does not. So, they complement each other that way. Either way, you've got a running firewall in AIS even if Windows Firewall is disabled.
All we're trying to do is rule out possibilities for blocks for proper Windows Firewall operation.
Irregardless of a vendor's ethics, it still stands to reason that their software may or may not be optimal for your system given the admitted state of their software engineers in that they would have to resort to this sort of behavior (intellectual theft of proprietary property) and that they were caught in the act of doing so. Only a lessor/inferior company would resort to such tactics, is what we all are saying to you.
You've a conflict/bug between AIS and IOBit, that's what appears to be the case here. Your choice on which to keep or remove.
I haven't got Avast! Internet Security, and my versions of both free programs are free.
However, the problem is solved now. I reinstalled Avast! and it went away. I'm not sure why, but whatever it was its fixed.