Windows XP default firewall keeps disabling itself

[beatlefanLH]

 My XP default firewall keeps disabling itself and then I get a ton of viruses that Avast picks up and I move them to the chest.  I then run a schedule scan which finds some infected files and then I sign in again.  I still get the red apple with an x on the task bar at the bottom right.  I will then run shared access to correct the registry and then I'll reboot and everything will be fine then the red apple appears which indicated my firewall is disabled.  Any suggestions?

[NickGolovko]

I still get the red apple with an x on the task bar

It is not apple, to tell the truth.

The Windows firewall can be easily disabled through registry, that's why it often becomes a victim of viruses.

Have you tried to re-enable it?

[FreewheelinFrank]

Hi beatlefanLH,

As NickGolovko has suggested, malware on your computer is probably disabling Windows firewall and downloading more cr#p every time you connect.

I wouldn't bother trying to get Windows firewall back up: just download a good firewall like Zone Alarm or Kerio. (Both have free versions.)

The trick is to do a through scan offline before installing the firewall.

If your computer is not responding, you can download the firewall on another computer and burn to a CD. I also recommend you download these programs, with their definition file if you're doing it from another computer:

DrWeb CureIT!: (No definition file needed)

http://download.drweb.com/drweb+cureit/

a-Squared free:

http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/

Ad-Aware:

http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html

Spybot Search & Destroy:

http://www.safer-networking.org/

Find out how to use Zone Alarm and download a copy (or Kerio if you want):

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/support/zasc/gettingStarted.jsp?anchor=alerts&lid=zasupp_u

Then go offline: pull the internet connection plug.

Do a boot time scan with avast! Scan with all the other programs. Repeat the scans until nothing new is found. Install your firewall.

Go back online and come back and tell us if you have any problems.

Good luck!