firewall not on

[zeb]

darn!
rebooted twice and nothing has changed

Do i need to go back to services and restart the things i stopped?

[zeb]

i see they restarted all by themselves

[Lisandro]

but when i did a search for symantec in files, 15 things came up should i delete all these or not worry about them for now?

1) Remove NAV through Add/Remove programs from Control Panel. Boot. (if you have any Symantec product yet: LiveRegistration, LiveUpdate, etc.).
2) Use Symantec removal tool following the three steps defined in the SymNRT tool info or here.
3) Boot.
4) Install avast! Boot.
5) See what you get.

Full SymNRT info:
1. Download and save these three files to the Windows desktop:
   a) ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/linked_files/tsgen/MSIFIX.bat
   b) ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/linked_files/tsgen/SymNRT.exe
   c) ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/linked_files/tsgen/SYMMSICLEANUP.reg

2. Run the three files that you just downloaded
   a) On the Windows desktop, double-click the MSIFIX icon.
      Click Run.
      A black window may appear very briefly.
   b) On the Windows desktop, double-click the SymNRT icon.
      Click Run.
      Click Next.
      Click I accept the License Agreement, and click Next.
      Type the letters and numbers that you see in the white box, and then click Next.
      Click Yes or OK at each prompt.
      You may need to click more than once. Your computer may be restarted for you more than once.
      You may be asked to repeat some steps after the computer restarts.
   c) On the Windows desktop, double-click the SYMMSICLEANUP icon.
      Click Run, and then click Yes.
      Click OK.

3. Boot.

[zeb]

1) Remove NAV through Add/Remove programs from Control Panel. Boot. (if you have any Symantec product yet: LiveRegistration, LiveUpdate, etc.).
2) Use Symantec removal tool following the three steps defined in the SymNRT tool info or here.
3) Boot.
4) Install avast! Boot.
5) See what you get.

where you wrote "install Avast" was i supposed to remove it first and then download it again?
if yes, is this before or after i run those 3 files?

[Lisandro]

where you wrote "install Avast" was i supposed to remove it first and then download it again?
if yes, is this before or after i run those 3 files?

Well, you don't have to uninstall avast...
Remove Norton will work with or without avast. So you can run the three files now or whenever you want.
You can download a new avast setup file and install it, or just update your installation through the Internet (update program).

[zeb]

Well, i have done all the above and nothing has changed.

[Lisandro]

Let's try the last resort...

1. Uninstall avast from Control Panel first
2. Boot
3. Use Avast Uninstall for complete uninstallation
4. Boot
5. Install again by this command on the folder you've donwload and save the install file: setupeng.exe /forceinstall
    Where setupeng.exe is the name of the executable

[MrRAlan]

Sorry if I missed this in previous posts...

Are you running XP home or professional?

Did you get this computer new or from a friend?  I'm wondering if group policy was previously applied to the PC before you recieved it.

[zeb]

I tried the last resort and still nothing has changed.
I am running XP home.
I bought it new from Dell.
I seemed to notice the security balloon start popping up
when I first downloaded Avast,
I just assumed it was because of that and not  worry about it.
but then i came here to check.

So now I am wondering if i should just download a firewall.
Is that complicated?
because I am not really computer smart.
THANK YOU all for your help!

[zeb]

Just bumping this up,
for any advice before i download a firewall. Thanks

[DavidR]

I seemed to notice the security balloon start popping up
when I first downloaded Avast,

Sorry I haven't reread the whole thread but what security balloon, do you mean the avast Alert with accompanying ear splitting audio alarm ?

Installing a firewall is no different to installing a program, download the setup file and execute it.

- Zone Alarm free http://www.zonelabs.com works fine with avast and has a reasonably friendly user interface. If you chose Zone Alarm free you will be asked a compatibility question, answer NO.

There are others, Sunbelt Kerio, Jetico, etc.
See some firewall tests for comparison, some are freeware but many are paid for versions http://www.firewallleaktester.com/tests.php. Also see http://www.thefreecountry.com/security/firewalls.shtml

[zeb]

Hi,
no, its the red windows security alert icon, that says I have no firewall on.
Thanks, I'll take a look at the firewalls.

[Lisandro]

no, its the red windows security alert icon, that says I have no firewall on.

But, do you have a firewall?

Zeb, Windows Security Center does not give you ANY protection. It's just a monitor that say what other products are protecting you.
Don't worry that much. A lot of users include disable WSC.
You need a firewall and you need an antivirus. If you have them, cool 

[zeb]

Yes but what about my screen shot back on page 2 or so.
it shows my firewall is off.

[alanrf]

Team -

is it not possible that zeb has been the victim of a trojan that has set up a group policy to prevent the turning on of the Windows built in firewall in an effort to keep the system vulnerable?

Any of our contributors familiar with the use of group policy in XP - it seems to be a less than well known area?