Windows 10: Windows 10 Firewall will not turn on.

I have a ZBOX, which came with Windows 7 installed. This was updated to Windows 10 a few weeks before the free offer ran out & was running fine.

Recently, I started getting the error message that Windows Firewall wasn't running & to tap to start it. When I do so, I get told that "Security and Maintenance Can't Turn on Windows Firewall." When I click the link to turn it on manually, I get a window that tells me the "firewall is not using the recommended settings." When I click the "Use Recommended Settings" button, nothing happens. If I click the "View recommended Settings" link, nothing happens. If I go to the Turn Windows Firewall on, or off link, it takes me back to the "firewall is not using the recommended settings" thing.

I have Googled & tried everything I can find online, including the following... Fix: Unable to Activate Firewall in Windows 10. I did discover that this problem has been a common one since Windows 8, but none of the fixes I've found work.
I've even run ReImage, which I suspect you'll disapprove of, since it's a registry tweaker & they are so often more trouble than they're worth, but that made no difference.

Today, to add to my joy, I discovered that serveral built in Windows apps, such as the calculator, no long run. I discovered how to re-install them through PowerShell, but guess what? Several couldn't be reinstalled because Windows Firewall wasn't running. ReImage did, however restore all of those.

I have run Windows Defender & Malwarebytes, but neither of those, nor ReImage found any problems of that sort.

My only other option, it seems, is to install a third party Firewall, which I'd rather not do.

:)

 

Windows 10 Firewall will not turn on.

Just as a double check (or is it a triple check?), download, install, update and run a full scan with (free) Malwarebytes. Keep it free, no need to enter a trial. Malwarebytes -
Free Cyber Security & Anti-Malware Software The scan wont take that long and its a good 3rd party anti malware tool.

If it still does start after that, then what is the exact error message/error number being reported both by the firewall repair tool, AND when you try to start the firewall itself.

 

Windows 10 Firewall will not turn on.

Did you run a MacAfee specific removal tool? If not, see if there is one to run for the MacAfee product you had. If so, download and run it. (For example https://service.mcafee.com/webcenter/portal/cp/home/articleview?articleId=TS101331&_afrLoop=1805017809652099#!%40%40%3F_afrLoop%3D1805017809652099%26articleId%3DTS101331%26centerWidth%3D100%2525%26leftWidth%3D0%2525%26rightWidth%3D0%2525%26showFooter%3Dfalse%26showHeader%3Dfalse%26_adf.ctrl-state%3Dy78g5fc82_49
or McAfee Removal Tool - McAfee Uninstaller
IF they are for the MacAfee product you were using).

Have you tried the MS FW troubleshooter - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...agnose-and-fix-problems-with-windows-firewall

 

Have you opened Settings, typed Firewall, and used all the options as per attachment?

 

Yes, I get to the window in your screenshot, but in my case I have this message, as before...





If I click on the "Check Security Status option, it tells me the firewall is off, but as before, when I click to turn it on I get the following...





When I click on the "Turn on Windows Firewall manually link, it takes me to the same window.

The only thing I haven't tried, because I am reluctant to end up needing to reinstall all my apps, is to reset Windows. I'd rather like some assurance that the problem won't reoccur before I go that far.

 

Disappointed to have had no suggestions since my last reply. I have since installed the free version of Glasswire, but Windows still thinks it doesn't have a Firewall running & I apparently can't update Apache Open Office, because it seems to need the Windows Firewall to be on to run the update.

 

Dave, have you done the following?
Do first attach then second.

 

I simply cannot get to those options. When I open Windows Firewall I get the following...





When I click on Turn Windows Firewall on or off I get the following...





In both windows, if I click on the Use Recommended Settings button, the icon shows that the computer is working for a short while, then it stops with no discernible effect. If I click on the "What are the recommended settings?" link, nothing happens.

 

Try clicking on restore defaults...

 

That didn't work either.

Someone on another forum suggested I try Tweaking.com - Windows Repair 3.9.18

This seems to have done the trick.

 

Sorry I couldn't help....glad you got it sorted.

 

To Dave -
Many thanks for your description, thorough documentation, and final solution to this problem. I have it exactly as you descibe and will try the tweaking.com solution. Hope it works for me as well!