My Windows security alert bubble popped up saying I have no firewall, so I went in and attempted to turn it on and it just poofed.  I tried to do a system restore but it is now gone as well as my AVG anti virus what can I do to get my Windows components back.

Check for available Microsoft Updates

First of all, Microsoft's first piece of advise when troubleshooting System Restore is to check for available updates. Apparently, if you are missing a service pack or other important update, some of your computer's functions might fail or go missing. Just to ensure that your computer isn't missing a critical update, let's start there -- in a browser search, enter Windows Update and then follow the prompts to search for any releases for your software.

Once you have done that, restart your computer. Now, click Start, then All programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, and finally, System Restore to check if you are now able to access the tool.

Run Windows Built-in System Tools

If this doesn't work to recover your System Restore tool, or even if it does, I recommend you run some Windows built-in system tools to scan your computer for any errors or corruptions that might be responsible for your issues. In Windows Vista and 7, you can use the System File Checker utility to look for missing or corrupt files and then repair or replace them.

• 1. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories and then right click Command Prompt
• 2. Choose Run as Administrator
• 3. If asked for a password, enter it or click Allow
• 4. Type in sfc /scannow and Enter to run the utility and follow the prompts offered
• 5. For more advanced troubleshooting with this tool, you can visit the related Microsoft Support page

Update your Anti-Virus Software

Since your problems started with a security pop-up, you should also ensure that your protection software is up to date. In addition to Microsoft Updates, you should also frequently update your antivirus software, especially if you are using freeware, since it usually doesn't include update alerts.

Scan your System with an Anti-Malware Program

There are some malware programs that can appear as system tools -- such as Control Center -- which can fool users into allowing them access and then wreak havoc on your system. Some of the symptoms you describe sound like this kind of infection, so I recommend you download and run a free malware security program like Malwarebytes. You will most likely have to run the program several times to remove the threats. At the same time, you can keep trying to successfully update or re-install and run your AVG program until your system comes up clean. I hope this information helps!

Kate Dubensky | May 31st, 2011
Tags: missing windows components, windows components, windows virus symptoms
Categories: Windows

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