Windows 7 Firewall and Base Filtering Engine

Issue:

Your Windows Firewall Service (MpsSvc) will not start. You get a message about a dependency service not starting. Check to see if it is the Base Filtering Engine (BFE). If it is, this is a two-part fix.

If so, you will notice when you try to start that it also needs a dependency service, the Windows Firewall. If you check Event Viewer, you will see the cause is Access Denied.

How to fix the BFE Access Denied issue. You have a permissions issue.

http://www.internetdownloadmanager.com/register/new_faq/enableBFE2.html

You can now start the service.

However, your Windows Firewall Service is still not starting and in Event Viewer, it also has a Denied Access message. You have another permissions issue you need to fix.

How to fix the Windows Firewall Service Access Denied issue.

http://www.kentoyer.com/2012/01/15/windows-7-firewall-service-wont-start/

Your Windows Firewall Service will now start.

Now, if you're like me and you don't want to personal firewall service running, you cannot just disable it like you did in Windows XP. In Windows 7 and beyond, the Windows Firewall Service must be running. It's easy enough to turn off the private and public firewall services either with the GUI or at the command-line.

c:\>netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state off

To verify:

c:\>netsh advfirewall show allprofiles

If your domain profile firewall is still on, it is because it is set in group policy and will need to be turned off there.

Applications Not Able To See Mapped Drives In Windows 8

Applications having trouble seeing mapped drives in Windows 8 when running them As Administrator?

Here's a work around.

Create the following as a text file (Use Notepad)
(Do not include the cut lines)


-----------8<-----------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"EnableLinkedConnections"=dword:00000001

-----------8<-----------

I saved mine as EnableLinkedConnections.reg

Then just double click it and click OK through a couple of prompts.  You will need to reboot.

Sony Screen Brightness Keeps Dimming - Windows 8

Problem:

You've installed or upgraded your Sony Vaio to Windows 8 and it keeps dimming the screen.

Cause:

The computer is set to "Detect the ambient light and automatically adjust the brightness of the display."

Solution:

• From the Metro screen, type in VAIO.
• On the left side of the screen VAIO Control Center should be at the top and selected, you can press ENTER or click VAIO Control Center to load.

• Click Display - it will expand and the first option will be Automatic Brightness Settings

• Uncheck Adjust brightness automatically
• Hold down the FN key and press the F6 key to increase the brightness and this time it will stay set.