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Missing All Windows Firewall Predefined Rules

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Zentard:
I moved my own post because it had little to do with feedback...

I'm running Windows Vista Home Premium (64) SP2

Recently a Virus attacked my system and among other things I lost all Windows Firewall Predefined Rules.  I managed to repair most of the damage done except this one particular issue, the aforementioned missing predefined rules.  This has caused the exact issue that is described in the following link, except I'm running Vista, not Windows 7.  I'm linking the following description because it is an extremely well made presentation of the problem: http://superuser.com/questions/375042/cannot-turn-on-network-discovery-and-file-sharing-when-windows-firewall-is-ena

The fix is relatively simple provided you have access to another machine with a working copy of the exact same version OS.  Unfortunately that is something I do not have on hand.  I tried to see if my copy of Vista had some sort of repair option, but it turns out that Vista has not repair option at all, unless I run an "upgrade" install.   I've done that sort of thing in the past and it can cause some major headaches with overwriting settings and file versions.  I'll end up with more problems than I currently have.

What I need is a .reg file with the missing registry entries.  Does anyone know where I could find such a thing?

I ran Windows Repair (All in One).  I believe it caught some things I hadn't yet fixed, but it did not fix the missing predefined rules.  I can easily understand why that particular fix is not included, it's not common and it can potentially be a real headache to include fixes for every version.  But Windows Repair is an awesome program, thank you for building it.  If I ever get up on my feet I will give support.

Zentard:
I have been working to fix this issue by installing Virtualbox and creating a Vista virtual machine.  I e-mailed the missing reg keys to myself (in txt form since I can't email reg files  :rolleyes:) and I'm in the process of trying to get file sharing back up and running.

Zentard:
Now the predefined rules are present.  However, I believe whatever file "file sharing" is based on is still missing, because the service still will not work correctly and throws an unspecified error when activated through "Windows Firewall With Advanced Security".  I also found and ran "MicrosoftFixit.WindowsFirewall" for Vista, but it fails to repair the problem and even recognizes that it failed without mentioning why.

Anyone have any ideas?  I'm really running out of steam on this... :confused:

Shane:
I havent looked into the predefined rules yet.

My repair firewall tool mainly works with the files and services, it doesn't mess with the rules.

When you turn the firewall off do things work fine?

Shane

Zentard:
I wish I knew how my problem eventually resolved itself.  After hours of attempting to even comprehend all the files associated with Windows Firewall and its rules, I eventually called it a night.  The next morning the issues with file sharing appeared to have magically disappeared.  It could have been an update and restart that replaced missing files, or some other automatic process made repairs somehow.  But the trick with the Virtual Machine install where I e-mailed registry entries to myself was a life-saver on those missing Firewall rules, although it did overwrite some of my Firewall settings.  Re-setting them wasn't too much of a headache.

Also of note:  I had one of those infamous "redirect" viruses which also appeared to have mysteriously disappeared.  As I was following instructions from a couple different programmers on how to remove it by hand I discovered that it simply wasn't there, and my browser no-longer redirects randomly.

Musta been some ninja haxxor playing vigilante I guess.  :wink:

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