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Working With the Windows XP Service Pack Two Firewall
Table of Contents
What does the Windows Firewall do? How can it cause problems?
The Windows Firewall blocks other computers from initiating network contact with your computer. This protects your computer from worms and attempted break-ins from other computers on your network (e.g. other computers on the Internet). The firewall seldom causes problems because, almost always, you initiate connections from your computer to a remote computer. For example, when you use your web browser to surf the web. A few legitimate applications require a remote computer to initiate a network connection to your computer. In this case the Windows Firewall will cause the application to fail.
Turn the firewall Off if an application you use stopped working when Service Pack Two was installed.
Installing Windows XP's Service Pack Two automatically turns on the built-in Windows Firewall. If any application you use stopped working when Service Pack Two was installed you should, at least for the time being, turn off the firewall. The SP2 firewall can allow specified applications entry through the firewall but we haven't had time to learn the capabilities and limitations of this feature yet. As we learn more this document will be updated. Ideally you want as much protection as you can get from the firewall while allowing applications that need to initiate contact with your computer to do so. Remember, you probably don't have applications that require the firewall to be turned off or modified.
How to open the Windows Firewall Control Panel
To change any firewall settings, including turning the firewall on or off, you must open the Windows Firewall Control Panel. When first installed, getting to the Control Panel in Windows XP is quite different than in earlier versions of Windows. However, your computer may be set to act like Windows 2000. This is called "Classic View". These instructions cover both possibilities.
- Log in to Windows as a local administrator. If you are a home user you probably do this without being aware of it.
- Click on the Start Button.
- Open the Control Panel.
- If you are in "XP View" you will find "Control Panel" in the right hand column of the Start Menu. Click on "Control Panel".
- If you are in "Classic View" you will find "Settings" in the Start Menu. Click on "Settings" to open a sub-menu. Click on "Control Panel" in the sub-menu.
- If you are in "Category View" there is a prompt to "Pick a category". Click on "Network and Internet Connections". There is no "Classic View" equivalent for this step.
- Open the Windows Firewall control panel icon.
- In "Category View" you are prompted to "Pick a task..." or "Pick a Control Panel Icon". Click once on the "Windows Firewall" control panel icon.
- In "Classic View" there are many more control panel icons and no prompts. Double-click on the "Windows Firewall" control panel icon.
- The Windows Firewall control panel is identical in either view. By default the "General" tab will be selected and the Firewall is turned on. This is shown by the radio button to the left of the phrase "On (recommended)" being selected (i.e. having a black dot in its center).
How to turn the Firewall Off (or On)
Turn the firewall off only if you cannot run an application you need when the firewall is turned on. If you do turn the firewall off, let your local computing support staff know that you've done so.
- Open the Firewall control panel. (See previous section.).
- To turn the Firewall OFF, click on the radio button for "Off (not recommended)", then click "OK".
- To turn the Firewall ON, click on the radio button for "On (recommended)", then click "OK".
There's More...
Microsoft has a thorough description of the Windows XP SP2 Firewall on their web pages. This includes instructions on how to let an application on your computer receive connections from other computers. For more information go to:
Microsoft's Windows XP SP2 Firewall details
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Last Modified: 13 August 2004
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