Adding a Port Or Program In Windows Xp SP2 Firewall

f you are using Windows Xp SP2, and your firewall is Enabled, then sometimes you must have faced a problem of blocked sites, and firewall doesn’t allow you further to access it. Same happens with some of the softwares like SKYPE. Also some sites require some specific ports to be opened so as to transmit data. What in that case can you do. Well the simple thing is to add Ports. Let’s see how to make changes.

1. Go to Start –> Run, type firewall.cpl.
2. Click on Exception Tab, and untick the service you are not able to use. After you save changes you will be able to use those Softwares
3. Sometimes you might not see a particular software in that list. In that case Click Add Program button.
4. List of all the Installed softwares is shown and you need to select your service to add it up and activate it.
5. In case of opening a port, Click Add Port and give any name and the port numbers you want to add.

That’s it, you are done with editing your firewall. In future if you face any problem with Windows firewall, remember its very easy to edit with. Even if you play with it, it can be repaired, but don’t play too much .

Unable to Use “Add or Remove Programs”?

Its readers query time, Again. This time an anonymous mail came to me, which said, “Hello Pawan, My add and remove function is not working, I am not able to uninstall and install any of the programs, what can be problem, and the solution to this.”

Well, this person was definitely facing problem as he was not able to uninstall any of the programs. A simple registry tweak should help him out, as he used a disposable Email ID, so I was not able to contact him. This registry tweak was tried on windows Xp, and worked fine.
Here is what this Anonymous person needs to do.

1. Go to Start –> Run, and type Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Uninstall
3. On the right pane, look for DWord NoAddRemovePrograms
4. Change its value to “0” to disable it
5. If you don’t see this DWord you can create it as well, because when it is not created, it means it is not defined. So its always better to define it.

Hope this small registry tweak will help this Anonymous person