Can't start Windows Firewall service

Do I keep all my data with a repair install?

Bobcat said:

Do I keep all my data with a repair install?

Yes.
Repair Install allows you to keep your files, settings and apps.
No product key is required.
Activation is automatic.

I've had this same problem and began getting notifications last night that my firewall was not on. Also, not able to start my firewall, nor the firewall in services. I also get the error code 5 and clicking advanced settings under firewall opens another window but says firewall snap in can not load and I get error code 0x6d9. I also do not have the windows firewall driver in device manager. Googled many fixes and nothing has worked. Only thing I haven't tried is uninstalling my virus scan which is total security 360 essentials. I've read some may turn off the firewall even though to my understanding mine doesn't contain a firewall itself so why would it disable the windows one? I've read others end up having to do a reinstall over this which is very time consuming. If I'm on a router with a password is it really necessary that the router work?

I'm sure there must be another way

Is this just a tool that fix it? So I don't lose any file?

TairikuOkami said:

Tweaking.com - Windows Repair Free/Pro

That actually worked! Thanks!

I had uninstalled 360 essentials and ran a malware scan with defender and MBAM and then noticed that Defender would not update and Windows Update had started showing the same error as the Firewall and found that other people have been reporting this same behavior to the Microsoft help boards since Feb with no solution from them so I was going to try this not expecting it to work and then plan on doing a Refresh install but all seems good now

When the program loads no need to do the 'proper reset' or reboot into safe mode just go to the 'Repairs' tab and 'open repairs'. I unchecked everything except repair Windows Firewall and Repair Windows Update and let it do its thing and then reboot and everything works.

jkh334 said:

That actually worked! Thanks!

I had uninstalled 360 essentials and ran a malware scan with defender and MBAM and then noticed that Defender would not update and Windows Update had started showing the same error as the Firewall and found that other people have been reporting this same behavior to the Microsoft help boards since Feb with no solution from them so I was going to try this not expecting it to work and then plan on doing a Refresh install but all seems good now

When the program loads no need to do the 'proper reset' or reboot into safe mode just go to the 'Repairs' tab and 'open repairs'. I unchecked everything except repair Windows Firewall and Repair Windows Update and let it do its thing and then reboot and everything works.

I tried the exact same thing as you and it didn't work. I even can't open the 'Services.msc' anymore...
I don't know what to do next

EDIT: The services just opened. I'm going to try to start the firewall

EDIT 2: IT WORKED!!! Thanks everyone who wanted to help me ;-)

Bobcat said:

EDIT: The services just opened. I'm going to try to start the firewall

EDIT 2: IT WORKED!!! Thanks everyone who wanted to help me ;-)

So you did manage to start the Firewall through the services.msc. Yes ?

I just had this happen again and this time the program linked earlier did not fix the problem. It happened right after I ran ccleaner after uninstalling another program. I ran the ccleaner registry cleaner and 2 of the registry errors had to do with invalid firewall rules related to the uninstalled program so I let it delete the fw rules. I rebooted the PC and the firewall would not start no matter what I tried.