TotalAV and Windows Firewall

[Massacher]

I just tried to add a program to the Windows firewall but somehow TotalAV has blocked my ability to access it.

When I click Use recommended settings Windows Defender Firewall throws up this error:

Windows Defender Firewall can't change some of your settings.
Error code 0x8007045b.

I have googled for solutions but so far none of them have worked.

I've even disabled TotalAV (right click systray icon and selected Exit) but the issues remains.

Why has it locked me out of the Windows Firewall settings?!?!?! If I knew it would do that I wouldn't have bought it.

[Cathulhu]

Get rid of that scamware.

https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/dwlnlf/totalav_scam/

[Meatball]

Like the Catdude already mentioned, uninstall the adware and just use WinDefender.

[Massacher]

Yea I have uninstalled it.

Now I get a similar error 0x800706d9. Apparently when using a third party app other than Windows Defender it disables the Firewall/ICS service. I have checked Services.msc and the Windows Defender Firewall is on. Yet I cannot turn it on in control panel.

How can I enable it so its actually enabled? Its affecting the ability to open the Microsoft Store and the Xbox app too. They are all integrated apparently (I did a bit of digging)

I had a hunch that TotalAV was a piece of ♥♥♥♥. Doesn't even have a firewall in it. No way to set rules for apps. Only exclusions. It was only $19. Going to cancel any recurring payments. What a piece of ♥♥♥♥.

[Massacher]

I just ran this in safe mode:

https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/windows_update_error_0x800706d9.html

Still didn't fix the firewall or Windows Store! ffs why do they make it so annoying?!?!?

edit: I can't do step 4

4: Windows Update Error 0x800706d9 - Turn on Windows Firewall

Click on Windows Security in the system tray (lower-right corner). Verify that Domain, Private, and Public firewalls are on.

Click on Firewall & network protection.

As I can't open the firewall setting.

[76561198343548661]

Reset Windows along with keeping own files , if nothing other helps

[Massacher]

Publicado originalmente por littlecat20160:

Reset Windows along with keeping own files , if nothing other helps

I tried that. Can't even get windows 10 downloaded so I can't downgrade from windows 11. It gets stuck at 0% downloading.
Some services are baked into the setup file. Which I think means it needs the firewall to work. Not 100% sure about that.


I'm going to try the Reset Windows Update Agent tomorrow. Hopefully that will be able to fix whatever is causing this most frustrating issue with windows firewall, windows store and Xbox app. They all seem to require the firewall to work.

Its pretty ♥♥♥♥ how third party AVs disable Windows Defender Firewall.
Even uninstalling doesn't revert back to it.

[76561198343548661]

i got a very bitter experience with Zone Alarm AV . I would never try it again . After i uninstalled it , Windows misbehaved - crashes and weird things , as if was virus infected . Wow , never expected that .

[Cathulhu]

At this point, it's most likely the best cause of action to install a clean copy of Windows. Seems that your current Windows installation has been messed with way to hard.

[plat]

Yeah I read somewhere TotalAV was originally written by a malware coder--lol. It uses Avira engine so it's "technically" an AV but it has a poor reputation.

I do agree you are looking at reinstalling Windows. This would be the time to consider imaging software like Aomei or Macrium.

Since this stuff doesn't have a dedicated uninstaller, I'm guessing there are too many remnants in the registry alone. Never again, right?

[Massacher]

Publicado originalmente por plat:

Since this stuff doesn't have a dedicated uninstaller, I'm guessing there are too many remnants in the registry alone. Never again, right?

Yea it does. I uninstalled it. And made sure to uncheck the box that said keep settings.

[Massacher]

I'm going to try the steps here when I get home. Hopefully something works.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/cannot-change-windows-firewall-settings-error/81b3d671-fb04-4440-9424-4d744b30f040

Just thinking if I use my windows 10 disc and repair will that allow me to downgrade and keep files?

[Massacher]

Well ♥♥♥♥

https://i.ibb.co/R0b7CCT/can-t-keep.jpg

[76561198343548661]

So , any good news ?

[Massacher]

I've tried a whole bunch of other ♥♥♥♥. None of it has worked.

There is something about the language settings that Windows uses but I can't seem to change it to English US. If I can figure that out maybe it will let me keep my files.

Its set to English Great Britain en-GB. Not sure how that happened but it has to be set to en-US.

DISM /online /get-intl

shows the current UI language

I used

DISM /Image:C: /Set-UILang:en-US

But when I check it with the get-intl command its still set to en-GB.

I think maybe I have to run the command from the install DVD? So that Windows is in offline mode. Though that is a very early version. Before any major updates were released.

I will try it after work tomorrow. I'm frustrated af right now and a bit deflated that I couldn't fix it.

Also for some reason when booting into the command prompt offline my windows drive isn't C: but H:
I'm not sure why the drive letter changes.

I have multiple drives. Seven in total (two M.2) and an optical drive (Bluray burner).



I've tried all this

https://m.majorgeeks.com/content/page/windows_update_error_0x800706d9.html

Including Reset Windows Update Agent. There are more options in Windows 11. But nothing worked.

Maybe I'll try repairing using the windows 11 ISO. That may restore the firewall and fix any other problems.

Windows Defender needs the Microsoft store which still isn't working. So its a pretty ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up situation.

Wait do I have to run the setup file from C:?
Even though I don't know how that would be possible because the ISO has to be mounted. Unless I just extract all the files to C:?

[plat]

You have to clean-install to return to Windows 10. But you want to stay on Windows 11--OK, so minimize any risk of lingering issues and consider a clean-installation likewise.

You can manually migrate your data to another drive via drag-and-drop and then unplug it to keep it offline to save it. if you have a storage drive inside your machine, to be safe, unplug from the motherboard before reinstalling Windows.

For reinstating drive letters, there are some guides online using DISKPART commands but I would call it a day and clean-install with an ISO embedded on a USB/flash drive. A repair might not go far enough. This link will provide the ISO. For clean-install, choose "Create Windows 11 Installation Media." When you boot from the USD, you will see in small letters: Repair this PC. But to clean-install, choose the partition with the proper volume in GBs.

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

This will wipe and re-format your Windows drive, losing any remaining data and any system modifications. If you repair, you may risk further wear-and-tear to your drive due to residual issues. It's happened to me before.