Windows Vista Firewall gone rogue? Help!

[JDeRouen]

I use the stock Windows Vista Firewall, and it's suddenly gone crazy. I haven't changed any setting in it, but it's blocking anything and everything that accesses the Internet. Firefox, Thunderbird, Yahoo Messenger, etc. In fact, the only way I'm able to post this message is by temporarily turning the firewall off.

Once I turn it off again, the Internet is completely inaccessible. This happened this afternoon, I think when it detected something it didn't like on a website and asked if it should abort (I said yes,) and I have no idea how to fix it. I've tried going in and adding exceptions for every program, but that does no good. I am completely blocked from the Internet as long as the Firewall is turned on. I'm utterly flummoxed on how to fix this. Help!

Joe

[thunderbolt]

Is this why I haven't gotten my end of the pre xmas trade we made?

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I keep all my data on extermal disks, so when Mr Computer acts up, Mr Computer gets a full reformat.

DoN C.

[WannabeMego]

If you're willing to reset the Windows Firewall back to the Factory Default and start all over again (customizing your Firewall settings), you could do this:

In XP you could reset the Windows Firewall to the factory default state by:

1. Type firewall.cpl in Start, Run dialog.
2. Click the Advanced tab.
3. Click the Restore Defaults button.
4. Click Yes to continue when you see this dialog

- or -

You could use the NETSH command-line to accomplish the same thing by:

Open a Command Prompt window and type NETSH FIREWALL RESET

It should be able to do the same thing in Vista...should...

If you decide to go down this route and you have some unique settings for some apps you have installed, I'd recommend jotting those configs down before resetting.

Good Luck.

[Zemo]

Simply don't use windows firewall. Disable it and put a real firewall in.

[WannabeMego]

If you're open to alternative suggestions Joe...

Comodo Firewall: Comodo Firewall Protection & Anti-Virus Software

The download had the Firewall & an Anti-Virus App bundled together...I just like the Firewall...others I now say the Anti-Virus is good as well...I prefer something else though.

There are plenty of other Free Firewall Apps that are more intuitive then the default Windows Firewall and require less tweaking.

In the end, I hope you get your system back to a workable state whichever path you choose.

~ Tom

[JDeRouen]

Thanks Tom, for your advice! I've actually used Comodo before. When my PC's HD crashed back in November, however, I just never got around to reinstalling it, and the Windows one seemed fine. I probably will end up downloading Comodo again or possibly trying Sunbelt. It just bugs me that I can't get Windows firewall to work correctly. (I did try all of those things, but no dice. It's like something permanently got stuck in the "block everything" mode and it can't be undone.)