When i try to start my Windows Firewall from the list of services, I get this error

"Could not start the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service on Local Computer. Error 5: Access is denied."

I've tried this (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892199) from MS, but still the Firewall wont start

Any help and advice will be very much appreciate

Access is denied...??? are u have administrator rights on pc?

yeap I am.

Just to provide with more information. i've done spyware and virus scanning, all clean.

tried with "netsh firewall reset" and "netsh winsock reset"

still nothing works

is it windows XP firewall, or other one...Norton for example?

it can be that u use other firewall... and he blocket windows firewall

I saw same thing on an XP SP2 machine (laptop) that had multiple problems. Applying KB892199 did not help.

There were several chipset drivers missing from the system, and its BIOS was ancient. Adding / updating all of these righted the system and the firewall started up ok. There were other issues with that system beyond that point but not relevant to the firewall.

Don't know if just the chipset drivers / updates / BIOS flash alone would have corrected the problem.

just fyi! hope you got it all fixed by now.

Nope, it's not fix. i've tried all the solution i found on the net, but still the same. even tried to format my pc and reinstall sp2. i'm not sure about the bios and chipset cause my problem is with the company pc.

Everytime the ICS cant start, i have to login into safe mode, den delete a file which is C:\WINDOWS\Software Distribution, it will be ok until i install updates again. every solution is fine until i install update, so i'm not sure the problem is with the updates? or with the pc itself.

any help will be very much appreciated

Its good you figured out a workaround for it. What a pain can't update chipset firmware & BIOS. I have some systems off limits to such updates because so heavily modified.

Also too bad can't dl a SRPM and have a look under the hood on that firewall, oh well.

I have a link to some Windows firewall internals that I haven't had time to read yet. Might give you some ideas, but likely you already been there done that.
Anyway here is the link:
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Window....mspx?mfr=true

good luck!