Hi

Sorry forgot to mention that Yes on Device Manager it is set to automatic.

I added Avast as my anti Virus. I restarted my computer a couple times now both times I had to turn on the firewall. This time it had a thing on it that said Show me my available options? It gives me 2 options 1. Go online to get a different firewall. or 2. I have a firewall I will monitor myself.

????? I will reread what you had posted earlier to figure out how to search for possible firewalls.

[i] Make sure that the Windows Firewall is enabled on your network connection:

1. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, and then click Security.

2. Under Windows Firewall, click Allow a program through Windows Firewall.
Because this task requires Administrator rights, you will see a User Account Control dialog box.

3. From the window that appears, click the Advanced tab.

4. Make sure there is a check beside the internet/network connection that you want to use the Windows Firewall for

5. Click OK. [/i]
I unchecked for now the wireless connection and just have checked the LAN to see if that works. Ok it just rechecked the WIFI Connection ???

Hi
Windows Firewall Authorization Driver Properties
General Tab says:
Device Type: Non-Plug and Play Drivers
Manufacturer: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Device Status (in a box) This device is working properly

then buttons on the bottom OK Cancel

On the details tab start up type is set to automatic
You didn't mention anything about checking the other services I mentioned in my previous post:

1. Also ensure that the Remote Procedure Call Service & the Base Filtering Engine Service are both started and set on Automatic.

Under Services Remote Procedure Call is set to automatic

But there is s Remote Procedure Call Locator is set to manual

The Base Filtering Engine is set to Automatic

Under the same list there is Windows Firewall it is set to automatic. When I double clicked on it startup type is automatic On Dependencies are listed the above 2 you wanted me to check and it said the following system components depend on this service:

Windows Event Collector which is set to manual
4. Ensure that the Windows Firewall Authorization Driver (mdsdrv.sys) is running properly:

1. Type devmgmt.msc in Run bar and hit enter to open Device Manager. In views tab check on Show Hidden Devices and also show Devices By Connection.

2. Locate Windows Firewall Authorization Driver in the list and double click on it to open its Properties box.

3. Click on Driver tab and ensure that the process is started and startup type is Demand. Click OK.

4. Reboot. Hopefully your Vista Firewall should be working ok now.

It is set to DEMAND


Sorry I missed all that, I am a skimmer when I read. I am going to reboot again. That BTW is going so slick. very quickly.
[b]

Holly, please read everything below carefully and do not skim read. Take your time and follow the instructions exactly. From what you are saying in your above posts, I am not certain if you did everything exactly as I instructed.

angelface1961 wrote:

I added Avast as my anti Virus. I restarted my computer a couple times now both times I had to turn on the firewall. This time it had a thing on it that said Show me my available options? It gives me 2 options 1. Go online to get a different firewall. or 2. I have a firewall I will monitor myself. Are you sure that this message isn’t coming from the Malware Protection area warning you that it isn’t detecting an antivirus application? The Security Center window shows the four essential areas of Windows security: Firewall, Automatic Updating, Malware Protection, and Other Security Settings. The word On and a green light will appear next to each of these lines to show that you’re adequately protected. If a line has the word Off and a red light, then your computer is at risk (some settings also provide a warning yellow light). You can click the expand arrow next to the light to see details about each section, such as what settings each security area is currently set to, as well as a link to more information about each section. Windows Firewall may not recognize Avast. You will want to tell it that “I have an antivirus that I will monitor myself” with Avast installed. ????? I will reread what you had posted earlier to figure out how to search for possible firewalls. Read this: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749262.aspx I unchecked for now the wireless connection and just have checked the LAN to see if that works. Ok it just rechecked the WIFI Connection ??? I would expect this to happen since windows firewall is supposed to automatically detect the networks you have running. Let’s try the following, step-by-step: 1. Shutdown your computer and disconnect your Ethernet cable. Then, turn the computer back on and set a new restore point just in case something goes wrong. Go to the Services window (Type services.msc in the Run bar). Stop the following processes: Windows Firewall Service Remote Procedure Call Service Base Filtering Engine Windows Event Collector Double-click each to get the properties window. On the General Tab, the first 3 above should have the Startup Type set to “Automatic”, and the 4th to “Manual”. If they are not, set them that way. Under Service Status: click the Stop button for each and click ok. Then, double-click the service to get the properties window back, click the Start button for each to restart it, and click ok. 2. Open Windows Firewall by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Security, and then clicking Windows Firewall. 3. Click "Turn Windows Firewall on or off". If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation 4. Note what state you found Windows Firewall in, regardless of what the Security Center told you. If On, Click Off and then click OK. If Off, Click On and Click Ok. If you turned it off, then after clicking Ok, go back and turn it on and click Ok. 5. Under Windows Firewall, click "Allow a program through Windows Firewall". Because this task requires Administrator rights, you will see a User Account Control dialog box. 6. From the window that appears, click the Advanced tab. Go to the Default settings" options under the Advanced tab and click the "Restore Defaults" button to remove any previous settings changes that have been made and return the Windows Firewall back to its Default configuration. Go back to the general tab and check to see if the Firewall is now on. If it isn’t, turn it on. You may also want to turn on the “Block all Programs” option as well unless you have a home network with file and print sharing. Click OK to exit the window. 7. You said…. It is set to DEMAND But is it started? This is critical to Windows Firewall working correctly. Redo the below instructions and make sure the Windows Firewall Authorization Driver is running (started – see step 3). If started, stop it, click ok, then go back and Start it again and click ok. Quote: 4. Ensure that the Windows Firewall Authorization Driver (mdsdrv.sys) is running properly: 1. Type devmgmt.msc in Run bar and hit enter to open Device Manager. In views tab check on Show Hidden Devices and also show Devices By Connection. 2. Locate Windows Firewall Authorization Driver in the list and double click on it to open its Properties box. 3. Click on Driver tab and ensure that the process is started and startup type is Demand. If started, click stop and click ok. Then go back and Start it and Click OK. See this link for clarification of the above: http://www.winvistaclub.com/t61.html 8. Type the following command into the Run box: netsh winsock reset 9. Reboot your computer. What happens on startup with Windows Firewall? 10. Shutdown your computer and reconnect your Ethernet cable. Restart your computer. What happens now?

If you are still having the problem,

1. Are you running a home network with file and print sharing? If you are, do you have your computers connected to an ethernet router or just a modem? If a modem, are you sure it doesn't have a built-in router? If you don't know, check with your ISP Tech Support. I read that Windows Firewall in Vista defaults to Off if you are on a router or your network is LAN with network location setting set to Private. If you are connecting directly to the internet through a modem only without router and you don't need sharing and Network discovery turn them off. If your network location is set to Private, try setting it to Public and see what happens after that. See the following for how to do it:

http://www.home-network-help.com/network-location-type.html

2. Check to see if you have a 1394 Connection in Network Connections (see above link to find it). There should be a 1394 Net Adapter on your computer. If it is disabled, enable it (right-click on the connection and select Enable from the popup menu. If you are not on a home network, and connected directly to the internet through a modem, you should be able to disable the Lan connection and use the 1394 connection.

3. If none of the above works, I suggest you go through Tut#6 in the Tutorials forum step-by-step to look for malware before trying anything else.

Let me know how you are progressing, and if you have come to this point where you need to do malware scans. If you have any questions or problems, please post and I will answer as soon as I can.

_________________
Repa

Ok here is how I did:

Holly, please read everything below carefully and do not skim read. Take your time and follow the instructions exactly. From what you are saying in your above posts, I am not certain if you did everything exactly as I instructed.
angelface1961 wrote:


I added Avast as my anti Virus. I restarted my computer a couple times now both times I had to turn on the firewall. This time it had a thing on it that said Show me my available options? It gives me 2 options 1. Go online to get a different firewall. or 2. I have a firewall I will monitor myself.

Are you sure that this message isn’t coming from the Malware Protection area warning you that it isn’t detecting an antivirus application? The Security Center window shows the four essential areas of Windows security: Firewall, Automatic Updating, Malware Protection, and Other Security Settings. The word On and a green light will appear next to each of these lines to show that you’re adequately protected. If a line has the word Off and a red light, then your computer is at risk (some settings also provide a warning yellow light). You can click the expand arrow next to the light to see details about each section, such as what settings each security area is currently set to, as well as a link to more information about each section.

Windows Firewall may not recognize Avast. You will want to tell it that “I have an antivirus that I will monitor myself” with Avast installed.

????? I will reread what you had posted earlier to figure out how to search for possible firewalls.

Read this:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749262.aspx

I unchecked for now the wireless connection and just have checked the LAN to see if that works. Ok it just rechecked the WIFI Connection ???

I would expect this to happen since windows firewall is supposed to automatically detect the networks you have running.

Let’s try the following, step-by-step:

1. Shutdown your computer and disconnect your Ethernet cable. Then, turn the computer back on and go to the Services window (Type services.msc in the Run bar). Stop the following processes:

Windows Firewall Service stopped automatic started
Remote Procedure Call Service stopped automatic started
Base Filtering Engine stopped automatic started
Windows Event Collector stopped manual started


Double-click each to get the properties window. On the General Tab, the first 3 above should have the Startup Type set to “Automatic”, and the 4th to “Manual”. If they are not, set them that way. Under Service Status: click the Stop button for each and click ok. Then, double-click the service to get the properties window back, click the Start button for each to restart it, and click ok.

2. Open Windows Firewall by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Security, and then clicking Windows Firewall.

3. Click "Turn Windows Firewall on or off". If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation

4. Note what state you found Windows Firewall in, regardless of what the Security Center told you. If On, Click Off and then click OK. If Off, Click On and Click Ok. If you turned it off, then after clicking Ok, go back and turn it on and click Ok.
It was on when I turned it to off It says my computer is not protected: turn on windows firewall. And below that it says Windows Firewall is not using the recommended settings to protect your computer I have a place to click that says change settings and update settings now. I turned it back on.

5. Under Windows Firewall, click "Allow a program through Windows Firewall". Because this task requires Administrator rights, you will see a User Account Control dialog box.

6. From the window that appears, click the Advanced tab. Go to the Default settings" options under the Advanced tab and click the "Restore Defaults" button to remove any previous settings changes that have been made and return the Windows Firewall back to its Default configuration. Done Go back to the general tab and check to see if the Firewall is now on. If it isn’t, turn it on. It is You may also want to turn on the “Block all Programs” option as well unless you have a home network with file and print sharing. Click OK to exit the window. Done

7. You said….

It is set to DEMAND

But is it started? This is critical to Windows Firewall working correctly. Redo the below instructions and make sure the Windows Firewall Authorization Driver is running (started – see step 3). If started, stop it, click ok, then go back and Start it again and click ok.
Quote:
4. Ensure that the Windows Firewall Authorization Driver (mdsdrv.sys) is running properly:

1. Type devmgmt.msc in Run bar and hit enter to open Device Manager. In views tab check on Show Hidden Devices and also show Devices By Connection.

2. Locate Windows Firewall Authorization Driver in the list and double click on it to open its Properties box.

3. Click on Driver tab and ensure that the process is started and startup type is Demand. If started, click stop and click ok. Then go back and Start it and Click OK.
It says Status Started I stopped it hit OK Double clicked to get window back and started it. The start up type is Demand

See this link for clarification of the above:

http://www.winvistaclub.com/t61.html

8. Type the following command into the Run box:

netsh winsock reset Done

9. Reboot your computer. What happens on startup with Windows Firewall? It is on.

10. Shutdown your computer and reconnect your Ethernet cable. Restart your computer. What happens now? It is off.


If you are still having the problem,

1. Are you running a home network with file and print sharing? If you are, do you have your computers connected to an Ethernet router or just a modem? If a modem, are you sure it doesn't have a built-in router. I read that Windows Firewall in Vista defaults to Off if you are on a router or your network settings are set to private. If you are connecting directly to the internet through a modem and you don't need sharing and Network discovery, and your network location is set to Private, try setting it to Public and see what happens after that. See the following for how to do it: It is possible that because my computer automatically switches to wireless if it does not find a LAN so the idea of having a built in firewall because of that makes sense. I am going to install my own router from work and then just by pass this, there are some pluses to working for the cable company. The modem is the same as I used to have. So I do not think it has a built in router. So I am going to just forget this. And work on installing my router, Thank you for all your help. I think it is a Windows Vista thing. Bratty 2 year old need some time in the corner or something. I am ok with letting this go. If Vista defaults to No, I am not disciplined or smart enough to remember to turn it on every time I use the ethernet cable. I get distracted really easy lately and that would tax my brain more than I can let it.

http://www.home-network-help.com/network-location-type.html

2. If none of the above works, I suggest you go through Tut#6 in the Tutorials forum step-by-step before trying anything else to look for malware.

Let me know how you are progressing, and if you have come to this point where you need to do malware scans. If you have any questions or problems, please post and I will answer as soon as I can.

I have to say Vista was not my first choice either but was already installed. I like some of the features of Vista Love the sidebar...total waste of resources but Handy. Vista works ok as long as you let it do things the way it wants, much like a 2 year old. For example installing or adding anything it has to install it on its own or it will fight you all the way. "I can do it myself" When I get customers into the office that is how I explain it to them. Bratty 2 year old. I learned a lot about this computer. Knew how to do most of that on my XP found some interesting stuff on this one. Proved my know it all friend right I now have Avast as my antivirus as he said all along I should have. Dang, Juts won't tell him. LOL


Thanks for your patience and very involved help. I will stop more often and make myself known.

Holly