Windows firewall service pack 2

You may occasionally get an error message that reads "This connection has limited or no connectivity. You might not be able to access the Internet or some network resources." It indicates that your PC is having a problem trying to access your network device to connect to the Internet. Very often, a bug that typically affects Windows XP Service Pack 2 causes this error message. This bug causes a loss of your network connectivity in workstations that use Microsoft's L2TP-based VPN (virtual private networking) client to connect to the NAT-based networks. You can fix the "Limited or No Connectivity" problem in a few steps. (If your connection works but you still get the error message, go to Section 2 to learn how to disable it.)

Review the following symptoms and determine if you experience any of them after you install the Windows XP Service Pack 2:

You get the error message "Limited or No Connectivity" when you attempt to connect to your network.

You have a problem connecting to your local area network or to the Internet.
You keep on receiving an error message: "Acquiring IP Address" message. If you experience these symptoms after installing Windows XP Service Pack 2, then this bug is causing the problem. In this case, go to Step 2; otherwise, skip to Section 3 Download the Microsoft patch (KB884020) from the Microsoft website. Run this update to install it. Create a registry fix by launching Notepad and typing: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\IPSec] "AssumeUDPEncapsulationContextOnSendRule\"=dword:00000002 Save the file as FixReg.reg to your desktop. Double-click the saved file to install it into your registry. Restart your computer and the error message will likely be gone. If you still see the error message, follow the steps in Section 2. b> If Your Connection Works But You Still Get the Error Message b> Navigate to the "Start" button and select the "Control Panel." Double-click on the "Network Connections" icon. Right-click the "Local Area Connection" icon and select "Properties" from the popup menu. Click on the "General" tab. Uncheck the option that is labeled "Notify me when this connection has limited or no connectivity." Click "OK." b> If the Patch Doesn't Fix the " Limited or No Connectivity" Problem b> Check your DSL router for any malfunctions. Re-configure or power cycle your router. Check your computer's network card configurations and network cabling to ensure that the problem does not lie here. Check your firewall to determine whether it is blocking you from connecting to the network or to the Internet. Disable the firewall and attempt connecting to the network or Internet while with the firewall is disabled. If the firewall is causing connection problems, then reset or uninstall and re-install the firewall. Reduce your connection speed to 10 Mbps and test this to determine if it fixes the problem. To do so, navigate to the "Start" menu and select the "Control Panel," "System" and "Device Manager." Review the properties of your network card. Click the "Advanced tab." Locate the "Link Speed and Duplex" section. Change the settings from "Auto Detect" to "10Mbps/Full Duplex." Hope this helps.

Service Pack 2 (SP2) appeared on 2004-08-06. It is an important upgrade and should be installed on all Windows XP computers. The same is true for Service Pack 3 (SP3), which appeared on 2008-05-06.

However, due to the general tightening of security, there is the potential that some security measures interfere with special functions you had been using on your computer, and you may have to loosen some security settings accordingly. Given the complexity of some Windows XP installations, there is also always some potential for some other defect to show up.
List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811113/
Available disk space is used as follows (LIS = Local Install Source, the install files remain on disk; CAB = files of type .cab, cabinet).
Free disk space Features 600 MB Minimum for safe installation
(and safe operation of Windows XP) < 1.5 GB No LIS 1.5 .. 2 GB LIS and used CABs > 2 GB LIS and all CABs A general advice, particularly after changing hardware, is to power everything down, including any routers, cable modems, switches, hubs, and the like, wait 10 seconds, then power them up again. Rebooting without powering down is not enough in some cases.

Your problem may not be related to Service Pack 2 at all. If you have the firewall set up properly, but still have network problems, continue with the Windows Network Problem Solver page.
Microsoft offers free technical telephone support for Service Pack 2. In the US call (800) 936-5700 and press 0 to get to an operator. Ask for technical support on SP2.

This article does not generally cover installations running a third party software firewall. If you want to rely on the information given here, you have to completely uninstall any third party firewall software first.

The Windows Firewall Service not started.
Now to fix:
1. Click Start > Run > Type services.msc
2. Scroll down to Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
3. Double click it.
4. Change startup type to Automatic and Click Start.
5. Click Apply and then OK
6. Reboot.

To reset the Windows Firewall to the factory default state, try this:
Type firewall.cpl in Start, Run dialog.
Click the Advanced tab.
Click the Restore Defaults button.
Click Yes to continue when you see this dialog
Restoring the default settings will delete all settings of Windows Firewall that you have made since Windows was installed. This may cause some programs to stop working.

Alternately, you can use the NETSH command-line to accomplish this:
Open a Command Prompt window and type NETSH FIREWALL RESET
This command resets firewall configuration to default. This provides the same functionality as the Restore Defaults button in the Windows Firewall interface.

or

Try this link @ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914230

Hope it helps.

Note:- If you PC is infected with Malware & Spywarea that disable you have to clean up your PC first!!

Dear Sir,

Install any firewall client.. Windows Xp service pack 2 and vista has this inbuilt..
Then configure your firewall to block accepting connections by this software...

Hello kenji, hi, it would really help if you could add more information about the no connection problem, anyway there are several reason why you have no connection;

1. Bad Lan card, or built in lan port,
2. Lan card device driver not properly installed, check your driver CD.
3. loose lan cable. check using a lan cable tester device.
4. bad router or router setup.
5. bad dsl or modem setup.
6. bad telephone connection. check also telephone cable.
7. no internet service, call your ISP.
8. if you are using a wireless lan card, check the device.
9. bad Operating system installation.
10. check your connectivity setup, is it enabled?

Go through each from one to ten, see which one is the fault.

A service pack is a collection of all updates released to that point, and often includes new features, as well.

The major enhancements in Windows XP Service Pack 2 include Security Center, Automatic Updates, Windows Firewall, and Internet Explorer.

Security Center is an entirely new feature provided by Windows XP Service Pack 2. The Security Center service runs as a background process in Windows XP and routinely checks the status of the following components:
1. Windows Firewall: Security Center detects whether Windows Firewall is enabled or disabled. Security Center can also detect the presence of some third-party software firewall products.
2. Automatic Updates: Security Center detects the current Automatic Updates setting in Windows XP. If Automatic Updates is turned off or not set to the recommended settings, the Security Center provides appropriate recommendations.
3. Virus Protection: Security Center detects the presence of antivirus software from many third-party organizations. If the information is available, the Security Center service also determines whether the software is up-to-date and whether real-time scanning is turned on.

When Security Center detects an important security condition (such as improper settings), it displays a pop-up notice in the notification area.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 provides several enhancements to the Automatic Updates feature, including the following:
■ The latest version of Automatic Updates offers expanded support for Microsoft products, including Microsoft Office.
■ Previous versions of Automatic Updates could download only critical updates. Now Automatic Updates can download updates in the following categories: security updates, critical updates, update roll-ups, and service packs.
■ Automatic Updates now prioritizes the download of available updates based on the importance and size of the updates. For example, if a large service pack is being downloaded, and a smaller security update is released to address an exploit, that security update will be downloaded more quickly than the service pack.
■ Automatic Updates is now more automated. The need for users to accept End-User License Agreements (EULAs) has been eliminated. Also, the user now has a choice of whether to restart the computer following the installation of updates that might require a restart. Updates that do require a restart can now be consolidated into a single installation so that only one restart is required.

Previous versions of Windows XP include a software-based firewall named Internet Connection Firewall (ICF). After installing Windows XP Service Pack 2, this firewall is replaced by Windows Firewall.
Windows Firewall boasts a number of enhancements, including the following:
1. Windows Firewall is now enabled by default on all network
connections.
2. Windows Firewall provides an interface for configuring global settings that apply to all the connections of the computer.
3. In Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Firewall supports a new feature that allows you to keep Windows Firewall enabled and also not allow any exceptions; only solicited traffic is allowed. This new feature is intended to create an even more secure environment when connecting to the Internet in a public location or other unsecured location.
4. In Windows XP Service Pack 2, a startup Windows Firewall policy performs stateful packet filtering during startup, so that the computer can perform basic network tasks (such as contacting
DHCP and DNS servers) and still be protected.
5. In previous versions, you could not apply firewall rules based on Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. In Windows XP Service Pack 2, you can configure Windows Firewall so that firewall rules apply to IP addresses (or IP address ranges), meaning that only traffic from computers with valid IP addresses is allowed through the firewall.
6. In previous versions, you configure permitted traffic by specifying the TCP and UDP ports used by a service or application. In Windows XP Service Pack 2, you can also configure permitted traffic by specifying the file name of the application. When the application runs, Windows firewall monitors the ports on which the application listens and automatically adds them to the list of allowed incoming traffic.

Internet Explorer:
Windows XP Service Pack 2 introduces a number of new security features to Internet Explorer 6. As with the rest of the enhancements introduced with Windows XP Service Pack 2, most of the updates to Internet Explorer are intended to provide better security.

some malware has restricted access to administrative tasks,
try to download SPYBOT
check your system +-20 min

This usually happens due to missing or corrupt SharedAccess reg key, which represents the Windows Firewall Service.
Resolution

Download sharedaccess.reg (for Windows XP SP2 only) and save to Desktop. Then double-click the file to merge the contents to the registry. The Services entry will be created. Restart Windows (mandatory step, otherwise the following NETSH command will display an error message).

After restarting Windows, run the following from Command Prompt (cmd.exe)

NETSH FIREWALL RESET

Launch firewall applet from Control Panel, and then configure your Windows Firewall settings.

If nothing helps, as a last-resort solution (before reinstalling Windows XP Service Pack 2), give these two commands a try. Click Start, Run and type:

rundll32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection Ndi-Steelhead 132 %windir%\inf\netrass.inf

Restart Windows, and then run this command (from Command Prompt):

NETSH FIREWALL RESET

Attempt to start Firewall applet. Start the Windows Firewall service if prompted.

If you need to open ports on your router just follow the manual. If you need one just add a comment and I'll get right back to you. If this doesn't work do the same. Go slow and follow instructions. This should fix your problems. Keep track of what you do so it can be undone to start fresh just in case this doesn't work but it should.

Firewalls
GameSpy Arcade is 100% reliant on your Internet connection being fully functional. The same holds true for any games that you want to play online against other people. Firewalls and proxy servers are designed to block your Internet connection in order to minimize the chances that your computer will be accessed (or hacked!) by "unwanted visitors." They also have the unfortunate side-effect of disabling many of the things you might want to do online -- like play games -- since these activities depend on your PC making an unimpeded connection to other computers. Therefore, if you are using a firewall or proxy, Arcade may not function properly nor will you be able to download and install all of the files that you need in order to use the software to play games online.

Connecting to different places online requires access through "ports" in your PC's Internet connection, and firewalls and proxies will close certain ports for your protection. This is not always necessary, but you as the firewall/proxy owner are the only one who can open those ports. We can't do it for you - but we can give you some tips on how to configure your firewall / proxy to allow Arcade to work properly.

What is a firewall or proxy?
Firewalls and proxies are software programs or pieces of hardware designed to protect your computer and/or network from Internet intruders. Some of these are:

• Windows XP Firewall
• Norton Internet Security
• Tiny Personal Firewall
• Zonealarm
• Sygate (proxy)
• Wingate (proxy)
• Internet Connection Sharing aka ICS - provided by Windows 98SE and higher (proxy)
• Linksys Routers (hardware firewall)
• D-Link Routers (hardware firewall)
• Cisco Routers (hardware firewall)

Working Around the Firewall / Proxy

If you are behind a firewall/proxy and are able to change its settings, Arcade needs the following TCP ports open in order to function:

• 6667 (IRC)
• 3783 (Voice Chat Port)
• 27900 (Master Server UDP Heartbeat)
• 28900 (Master Server List Request)
• 29900 (GP Connection Manager)
• 29901 (GP Search Manager)
• 13139 (Custom UDP Pings)
• 6515 (Dplay UDP)
• 6500 (Query Port)
  
  Disabling firewalls will not work
  Unfortunately, in most cases, firewalls/proxies cannot simply be disabled in order to allow you to use Arcade and your game. Disabling the firewall / proxy will not open the necessary ports. It will simply shut down the firewall/proxy and leave the ports closed. Also, many factors may conflict with your firewall: Internet Connection Sharing, the use of more than one firewall, or your operating system may all cause conflicts that keep you from enjoying Arcade.
• Special notes to Windows XP users:
  Windows XP has a built-in firewall. If you are using 3rd party firewalls/proxies with Windows XP, you will have to consult both the firewall/proxy developer and Microsoft to determine their compatibility with one another. You will also need to speak to your game's developer in order to determine the game's compatibility with WindowsXP, its firewall and your 3rd party firewall/proxy.
  
  
  Disabling / Setting Permissions on Specific Firewall Programs
  
  We do not recommend disabling your firewall. Disabling it will not make it open up the ports it has already closed. Instead, you need to configure it to allow access to Arcade. This is usually called "giving permission," and can be accomplised quickly by following these steps:

• Windows XP Service Pack 2 -- The built-in firewall that comes bundled with Windows XP will affect two areas of your Arcade experience: 1) Arcade itself (including the login process, using PlayerSpy, chat, using the Download Manager and playing games) and 2) Hosting any parlor or peer-to-peer games. In order to use Arcade and play games properly with Windows XP, you should follow these steps:
  
  1) Unblocking GameSpy Arcade During Login: Click the "Unblock" button in the Windows XP firewall prompt the first time you attempt to log into Arcade atfer installing Service Pack 2
  
  2) Unblocking GameSpy Arcade via Control Panel: If you forgot to click "Unblock" in Step 1, or if you want to be ahead of the curve, you can configure the XP firewall to unblock Arcade via the Windows Control Panel. To do this: Click on Start > Settings > Control Panel > Windows Firewall. In the Windows Firewall menu, Click on the Exceptions tab. If GameSpy Arcade is not listed, Click on the Add Program button, find GameSpy Arcade on the list of available programs and click the OK button.
  
  3) Unblocking Your Games: This can be done in one of two ways: a) Either wait for Windows to prompt you to unblock the game and click the Unblock button (this usually happens the first time you attempt to host a game after installing Service Pack 2, or; b) Use the Windows Control Panel to add the game to your list of Exceptions, using the same method listed in step 2 above.
  
  4) Unblocking Ports: You can take the unblocking process a step further by instructing Windows to open the Firewall to all ports used by GameSpy Arcade and most of its supported games. To do this: Click on Start > Settings > Control Panel > Windows Firewall. From the Windows Firewall Menu, click on the Exceptions tab, then click on the Add Ports button. From the Add Ports Menu, enter a port from the list of ports at the top of this Arcade support page. Be sure to indicate whether this is a UDP or TCP port (the list above should indicate which it is).