Hi everyone, I'm having some trouble with my firewall and was hoping you guys could help. I can't seem to start my firewall. whenever I try to run it, it says
"Windows Firewall settings cannot be displayed because the associated service is not running. Do you want to start the Windows firewall/Internet connection sharing (ICS) service?"

when i click yes it says:
"Windows cannot start the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)service"

I have a windows XP, with ad-aware and avast, and i've already tried starting firewall through services.msc and other tricks. ANY help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[B]Hello and welcome to Techspot.[/B]

Let`s check to make sure you don`t have anything nasty that`s disabling the firewall.

Go and read this thread [URL="http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic19133.html"]HERE[/URL], then post a HJT log as an attachment into this thread.

Regards Howard

[color=red][b]This thread is for the use of[/color] BenC [color=red]only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.[/color][/b]

Check to be sure the F/ICS dependent services are running:

Network Connections
Windows Management Instrumentation

and both of these require Remote Procedure Call(RPC)

thanks for the response, here's my log hijackthisLOG.txt

@jobeard, yea i see them on the dependency section, but i don't know how to check if they're running or not.

cp -> Admin Tools -> Services
look for each by name
dbl click for properties
make sure each is AUTO started and if Stopped, perform a manual Start

The reason you can`t run the Windows firewall, is because you have the Zonealarm firewall running. Zonealarm automatically disables the Windows firewall by design. This is to prevent any conflicts as there would be if you were running more than one software firewall. So, no need to worry about that.

It also appears you`re running more than one antivirus programme. This is not recommended, will slow your system down and can cause serious conflicts. You should uninstall either Avast or AVG immediately.

Having said all that, your system is infected with a variety of nasties.

[b][color=red]Very Important:[/color] Before deciding whether you should clean or reformat your system, go and read this thread [b][URL="http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic65943.html"][color=blue]HERE[/color][/URL][/b] and decide what it is you want to do.[/b]

If after reading the above, you wish to clean your system, do the following.

Go to add remove programmes in your control panel and uninstall anything to do with(if there).

RXToolBar
Semantic Insight
WildTangent
Viewpoint
Viewpoint Manager

Close control panel and reboot your system.

Then, go and read the [b][URL="http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic58138.html"]Viruses/Spyware/Malware, preliminary removal instructions.[/URL][/b] Follow all the instructions exactly.

Post fresh [b]HJT[/b] and [b][color=red]AVG Antispyware[/color] logs as attachments[/b] into this thread, only after doing the above.

Regards Howard

[color=red][b]This thread is for the use of[/color] BenC [color=red]only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.[/color][/b]

(sorry for the late reply, work was piling up)
oh, i downloaded zonealarm because my windows firewall didnt work. but after following your instructions, it works now. thanks a bunch =]

here's my new HJT filehijackthis2.txt

i couldn't really save a copy of the AVG antispyware log because everytime i clicked "apply all actions" the program would freeze a bit. I'll try it again and post it later today.

You might want to copy and paste these instructions into a notepad file. Then you can have the file open in safe mode, so you can follow the instructions easier.

[b]Boot into safe mode, under your normal user name(NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT).[/b] See how [URL="http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial61.html"]HERE[/URL].

[b]In Windows Explorer, turn on "Show all files and folders, including hidden and system".[/b] See how [URL="http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial62.html"]HERE[/URL].

Go to add remove programmes in your control panel and uninstall anything to do with(if there).

websx

Close control panel.

Click start/run and type services.msc into the run box and press the enter key.

When the window appears, maximise it. Double click on the following services(if there) and select stop if they are running. Set the startup type to disabled. Click apply/ok for each service you disable.

WinTools for IE service (WinToolsSvc)[b]<Disable the service name and/or the name in brackets.[/b]

Close the services window.

Open your task manager, by holding down the ctrl and alt keys and pressing the delete key.

Click on the processes tab and end process for(if there).

WToolsS.exe
int174159.exe
HncUpdate.exe
SemanticInsight.exe
WHATPU~2.EXE

Close task manager.

Run HJT with no other programmes open(except notepad). Click the scan button. Have HJT fix the following, by placing a tick in the little box next to(if there).

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {549B5CA7-4A86-11D7-A4DF-000874180BB3} - (no file)

O2 - BHO: CheckHO Class - {576EB0AD-6980-11D5-A9CD-0001032FEE17} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\ycheckh.dll (file missing)

O2 - BHO: RXResultTracker Class - {59879FA4-4790-461c-A1CC-4EC4DE4CA483} - C:\Program Files\RXToolBar\sfcont.dll (file missing)

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {FDD3B846-8D59-4ffb-8758-209B6AD74ACC} - (no file)

O3 - Toolbar: FlashGet Bar - {E0E899AB-F487-11D5-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashGet\fgiebar.dll (file missing)

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [websx] C:\Program Files\websx\int174159.exe -auto

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HncUpdate] C:\HNC\HncUpdate.exe /A

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SemanticInsight] C:\Program Files\RXToolBar\Semantic Insight\SemanticInsight.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [WhatPulse] D:\WHATPU~2.EXE

O8 - Extra context menu item: &Search - [url]http://km.bar.need2find.com/KM/menusearch.html?p=KM[/url]

O8 - Extra context menu item: Namo SWF Catcher - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SourceTec\SWF Catcher\InternetExplorer.htm

O16 - DPF: {76CB493D-11F7-4236-BDE4-7A5851B03FA9} (Launcher Class) - [url]http://cabalonline.net/Com/CabalWebLauncher.cab[/url]

O16 - DPF: {89981B1D-07DA-43C3-9770-06C51E7E5DCE} (NostaleWebStarter Control) - [url]http://game.nostale.com/sso/NostaleWebLauncher.cab[/url]

O16 - DPF: {A16C2BF4-501E-45FA-8A14-F26E022D5E16} (MidRadioCtrl Class) - [url]http://adweb.music-eclub.com/php/adweb.php3?aid=143&arg=win%2Fmrinste.cab&ptx=mratdl[/url]

O16 - DPF: {CEA3052D-65B9-44E2-A501-5E14024BC66F} (TricksterActiveX Control) - [url]http://tricksteronline.com/control/tricksterActiveX.cab[/url]

O16 - DPF: {D88C7675-7CEE-4C9A-BDD4-7A43EED7794D} (Logout Class) - [url]http://www.tricksteronline.com/control/KALogoutComponent.cab[/url]

O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{31CA6C47-C09E-429E-B485-C8931AD7E65E}: NameServer = 4.2.2.4,4.2.2.5

O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{53B38872-5A1C-4EA1-8D00-473DCB4116BC}: NameServer = 4.2.2.4,4.2.2.5

O17 -
HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{5E2F8181-E891-49AF-9BB6-FA3EF081C814}: NameServer = 4.2.2.4,4.2.2.5

O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{B60FDC8F-6C94-46A2-BDB1-92AFF66853CC}: NameServer = 4.2.2.4,4.2.2.2

[b]Only fix the above 017 entries if they don`t belong to your ISP.[/b]

O18 - Filter: text/html - {2AB289AE-4B90-4281-B2AE-1F4BB034B647} - C:\Program Files\RXToolBar\sfcont.dll

O23 - Service: WinTools for IE service (WinToolsSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\WinTools\WToolsS.exe (file missing)

Click on the fix checked button.

Close HJT.

Locate and delete the following [b]bold[/b] files and/or directories(if there).

C:\Program Files\Common Files\[b]WinTools[/b]<Delete the entire folder.
C:\Program Files\[b]RXToolBar[/b]<Delete the entire folder.
D:\[b]WHATPU~2.EXE[/b]
C:\[b]HNC[/b]<Delete the entire folder.
C:\Program Files\[b]websx[/b]<Delete the entire folder.

Reboot into normal mode and rehide your protected OS files.

Post a fresh HJT log. Try running AVG Antispyware again and attach the log file.

Regards Howard

[color=red][b]This thread is for the use of[/color] BenC [color=red]only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.[/color][/b]

here you go
HJT file:hijackthisLOG.txt
AVG File: Report-Scan-20070307-230257.txt

thanks again for all the help howard

You might want to copy and paste these instructions into a notepad file. Then you can have the file open in safe mode, so you can follow the instructions easier.

[b]Boot into safe mode, under your normal user name(NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT).[/b] See how [URL="http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial61.html"]HERE[/URL].

[b]In Windows Explorer, turn on "Show all files and folders, including hidden and system".[/b] See how [URL="http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial62.html"]HERE[/URL].

Delete all files in AVG Antispyware quarantine.

Click start/run and type services.msc into the run box and press the enter key.

When the window appears, maximise it. Double click on the following services(if there) and select stop if they are running. Set the startup type to disabled. Click apply/ok for each service you disable.

npkcsvc

Close the services window.

Open your task manager, by holding down the ctrl and alt keys and pressing the delete key.

Click on the processes tab and end process for(if there).

npkcsvc.exe

Close task manager.

Run HJT with no other programmes open(except notepad). Click the scan button. Have HJT fix the following, by placing a tick in the little box next to(if there).

O23 - Service: npkcsvc - INCA Internet Co., Ltd. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\npkcsvc.exe

Click on the fix checked button.

Close HJT.

Locate and delete the following [b]bold[/b] files and/or directories(if there).

C:\WINDOWS\system32\[b]npkcsvc.exe[/b]

Reboot into normal mode and rehide your protected OS files.

Post a fresh HJT log.

Regards Howard

[color=red][b]This thread is for the use of[/color] BenC [color=red]only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.[/color][/b]

here you go, hopefully this'll be the last one i'll have to make hijackthisLOG.txt

Your HJT log is clean.

[b]Turn off system restore.(XP/ME only)[/b] See how [URL="http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial56.html"]HERE[/URL].

Now, turn system restore back on. This will have deleted all your old restore points and any nasties that are in them. It will also have created a new, clean restore point.

If you have any further virus/spyware problems, please post in this thread.

Regards Howard

[color=red][b]This thread is for the use of[/color] BenC [color=red]only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.[/color][/b]

Ack! the same problem ocurred again, I hope you can help once again howard.
windows firewall doesnt start up, even when i turn off zonealarm firewall.

hijackthis1.txt

Base on a recent experience, when you examine the General tab for the service, is a path to executable displayed and is it correct? What result do you obtain when displaying the Dependencies tab? If you are obtaining reasonable results, other services (dependencies) need to be enabled. See support/microsoft/com. Keyword 'firewall' gave me a wealth of info to look at.
However, if nothing is displayed for "path" or errors occur when attempting to display dependencies, Howard will probably direct you to pursue root viruses.
In my case I was able to recover from the corruption by copying files from another computer at the same fix level as the infected computer. I replaced files and sub-folders extending from c:\windows\system32\wbem.

Your HJT log is clean.

You don`t need the Windows firewall running, it`s complete garbage. In any case, you shouldn`t have two firewall programmes running at the same time.

Zonealarm is far superior, so stick with that and forget about the Windows firewall altogether.

Regards Howard

[color=red][b]This thread is for the use of[/color] BenC [color=red]only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.[/color][/b]