How to configure and use Windows XP built in Firewall

Loads of folk seem to have a problem getting Windows Xp's built in Firewall to work properlly for them. In this guide I hope to explain how to configure it and show you it is actually quite good to use......

Although I would agree that Zonealarm and quite a few other 3rd party firewalls are easy to setup and use, they are missing some functionality that is useful to have - I had avoided using XP's bulit in Firewall until I got my XBox and wanted to use XBConnect to get online - it required a TCP and UDP port to be opened but Zonealarm couldn't open individual ports and I was forced into finding another solution.....here goes

Windows XP Built In Firewall

Enable the Firewall With Network Setup Wizard

1/ Run Network Setup Wizard (Control Panel-->Network and Internet Connections-->Setup)
2/ The firewall is enabled when you choose a configuration in the wizard that indicates that your computer is connected directly to the Internet.

Manually
1/ Goto Control Panel
2/ Double click Networking and Internet Connections
3/ Click Network Connections
4/ Right click the connection where you want the firewall enabled
5/ Click Properties from the drop down menu
6/ Goto the Advanced tab
7/ Check Protect my computer or network
8/ Click OK
Firewall now enabled on that connection

Disable the Firewall
1/ Goto Control Panel
2/ Double click Networking and Internet Connections
3/ Click Network Connections
4/ Right click the connection to disable
5/ Click Properties
6/ Select Advanced tab
7/ Uncheck Protect my computer or network
8/ Click OK
Firewall now disabled on that connection

Open Ports in the Firewall
1/ Click Start
2/ Select My Network Places
3/ Network Tasks --> View Network Connections (Or right click My Network Places on desktop then Properties)
4/ Right click connection that you want
5/ Click Properties
6/ Select Advanced tab
7/ Click settings button (if it's greyed out you need to enable the Firewall see above)
8/ Click Add
9/ Type a name for the port your opening (eg. Napster : Port 6699)
10/ In name or IP address of the computer hosting this service on your network box type 127.0.0.1 *You can specify the IP address of an internal computer; however, in most cases, you use 127.0.0.1
11/ In external port and internal port boxes, type the port number - usually the same
12/ Select TCP or UDP
13/ lick OK
14/ Do this for each port to be opened

Programs and ports used
See HERE for a decent list.

MSN Gaming Zone - TCP - 28800-29000 - UDP - 28800-29000
AOL Instant Messenger - TCP - 443,563 - UDP - none
Crimson Skies - TCP - 28805,28801,3040,1121 - UDP - none
Decent 3 - TCP - 1900 - UDP - 1900,2092
Diablo II - TCP - 4000 - UDP - 6112
Need for Speed - TCP - 9442 - UDP - 6112
Napster - TCP - 6699 - UDP - 6699
NetMeeting - TCP - 1731,1720,1503,522,389 - UDP - none
Rainbow Six - TCP - 2346,2347,2348 - UDP - none
XBConnect - TCP - 8602 - UDP - 8602

stodan,
how do you find windows firewall compared to zonealarm?

i'm surfing behind a router, so dont use a firewall anymore.
even my windows firewall is disabled.
i find it slows down my download speed.

a friend was saying if you're behind a NAT, it's quite hard to get in.
what do you think?

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andrew wee

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I would definately use ZoneAlarm, rather than the Windows firewall. The inbuilt Win XP firewall is not so good, easy to break through

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Regards, tshugo

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