Windows XP Firewall Settings grayed out

Problem: Cannot change Windows Firewall setting on a Microsoft Windows XP SP2 workstation connected to a Small Business Server 2003 or any other workstation because the options are grayed out.

















Solution: Remove Firewall Group Policy from the registry.
Note: Local Machine Administrator Rights may be required. If necessary contact your Network Administrator.

Launch RegEdit.

Delete the Registry Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall]












To restore the Group Policy with Firewall On and grayed out.

Launch RegEdit.

Add the following information into the registry.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\DomainProfile]
"EnableFirewall"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\StandardProfile]
"EnableFirewall"=dword:00000001

Registry Editor
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\DomainProfile]
Value Name: EnableFirewall
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\StandardProfile]
Value Name: EnableFirewall
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1

To restore the Group Policy with Firewall Off and grayed out.

Launch RegEdit.

Add the following information into the registry.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\DomainProfile]
"EnableFirewall"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\StandardProfile]

Registry Editor
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\DomainProfile]
Value Name: EnableFirewall
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsFirewall\StandardProfile]
Value Name: EnableFirewall
Data Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0