Windows Vistax64 Firewall not starting

This is my first time posting and I am fairly noob to 7 forums, please bare with me. I have a Gateway LX6810-01 desktop pc with intel core 2 quad q8200 2.34ghz cpu, xfx GF6800 GT gpu, ddr2 pc 6400 ram, MCP7AM01G1 mobo, Antec VP450 psu, and running windows vista home premium.

The problem I have is my windows firewall is unable to start. I've gone to start menu>computer>manage>services>windows firewall and have it set to automatic but it does not start. I have clicked on the properties and checked the dependencies and the dependencies dependencies to verify they are all started.. they are. I also checked my windows firewall authorization driver in my device manager under the show hidden items and verified that it too is started. The services I checked were: Base Filtering Engine, Remote Procedure Call, DCOM Server Process Launcher, Windows Firewall Authorization driver, and all say they are started. The windows firewall service is not started and when I start it tells me: "Windows could not start the Windows Firewall on local computer. For more information, review the System Event Log. If this is a non Microsoft service, contact the service vendor, and refer to service-specific error code 5."

A little more background and then I will wait and see if one of you gurus can give me some advice and help. I got this system from a buddy that had it stored away in his garage for about a year and a half because it wasn't running so well and he upgraded. I cleaned every square inch of it (heat sink, fans, etc.) and then turned it on. I ran scan after scan.. Malware bytes, super anti spyware, emsisoft, avast, ADWCleaner, hitman pro, and initially after updating I ran windows essentials. I ran boot time scans, scans in safe mode, and about everything I could think of. I found a TON of nastiness.. Trojans, Rogue thingies, adware, PUPs, and about anything you could name. After removing all that garbage I settled on avast and super anti spyware as my security, but I want windows firewall also (windows firewall has become a principle thing at this point.. it will not win.) I don't want to run a third party firewall, please help me learn what I am doing wrong so I can get this windows firewall to start.

Thank you in advance for any help and taking the time to read this wall of text.


Regards,

FTPcomrad

Jacee,

I have got to run errands with the Mrs. but I will get on it as soon as I get back. I am so happy to see you reply to my thread. I once read an 8-10 page thread where you helped a guy that was fixing his wifes laptop. He was reluctant, stubborn, and persistent on using Norton antivirus because it was free from his ISP. You would write an amazingly thought out post asking him to run a scan or provide a log and then he would post a reply with a question or without doing what you had told him. I was frustrated just reading it, but I couldn't help myself and read through every comment until the end. It was like a story with a plot, climax, and a resolution. In the end I was amazed at your skill.. I swear you get to talking and it's like your speaking alien.

Sorry to gush but I think you're amazing. That said, I have to go buy groceries, pay bills, grab dinner, etc... I can't wait to get back now. Thank you, thank you, thank you.


Regards,

FTPcomrad

Okay, I ran all the steps of tweaking.com including the optional ones. I even rescanned using malwarebytes regardless of doing it yesterday. I'm sorry it took so long to get everything done, but errands took quite awhile and then we had dinner when we got home.

I won't do anything further until I hear back from you.

Btw, I was telling my wife the whole time we were gone about you helping me. She knew who you were because I had talked to her before about you... she told me I should just stay home so I could continue with what we were doing, but I knew she could use my help with the shopping and what not. I'm so pumped to be getting assistance from you, it's like going to an Aerosmith concert and having Steven Tyler call me up on stage to finish out a show with him and then invite me backstage to hang out for the rest of the evening. You're equivalent to a major celebrity in my book... I wish I could do what you do.

Thank you again for all the help.

I turned on the PC today since I had shut it off last night and out of curiosity I went to control panel>windows firewall.. it's green and working. I don't know if we're done, if you want logs (if you do then you'll have to tell me how because I am not the good,) or what to do so I'll wait until you tell me we're good before I check the mark solved tab.

You're amazing, thank you very much!


PS

If we're done should I uninstall the tweaking.com program?

Jacee,

I'm glad you enjoy the compliments and that it brightened your day a little.. It's the least I could do. I hope I attached the files properly for you to view. A part of me hopes nothing is found in the logs and another part of me hopes there is so we can really dig in to my pc. :)

Also, should I uninstall tweaking.com from my pc? I'll definitely put it on a thumb drive so I have it at my disposal for future systems I get. Thank you again, Jacee.. you're a super hero to me.


PS

I disabled avast just in case it would interfere with what you had me do. I also have Malware bytes but I didn't put it back on so it wouldn't interfere with anything. I also use super antispyware but took it off for this in case it would interfere. All 3 will be on my pc when we are done.

Jacee,

I have only updated this PC and haven't personally installed Vista sp2, but when I go to my computer properties it shows I am running Vista home premium service pack 2. Also, in the Malwarebytes scan log it showed my OS as vista sp2.. can you verify that I indeed have sp2 from that?

I didn't see Hit man pro or surf right in my programs and features so i ran a search and found it under Users>John>Downloads. I removed the file from there and then trashed it. After I removed the file I did another search for surf right and hit man pro but didn't see it anywhere. I also looked in my c drive program files and program filesx86 but didn't see it there either. Should that take care of it?

I uninstalled malware bytes and installed the latest version and ran a scan. After I viewed the report and exported it as a text file/document and saved it to my documents. I copied the log and will paste it below. Let me know what you think and if I had done everything properly. Thank you again, I could not have done this without your help and proficcient knowledge with computers.


Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes | Free Anti-Malware & Internet Security Software

Scan Date: 3/12/2015
Scan Time: 2:28:17 PM
Logfile: JaceeLog.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.00.4.1028
Malware Database: v2015.03.12.06
Rootkit Database: v2015.02.25.01
License: Free
Malware Protection: Disabled
Malicious Website Protection: Disabled
Self-protection: Disabled

OS: Windows Vista Service Pack 2
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: John

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 375283
Time Elapsed: 8 min, 3 sec

Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Warn
PUM: Enabled

Processes: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Files: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Physical Sectors: 0
(No malicious items detected)


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