Smart Fortress 2012 Removed, Can't Start Firewall Now

I was recently infected with the Smart Fortress 2012 malware. I'm fairly confident I've successfully removed it (ran lots of tools, which found it a removed it, no symptoms currently). However, it seems to have done damage to Windows Firewall. I cannot start the firewall service. I have tried multiple fixes (5 or 6, many per instructions of Microsoft's website), including Microsoft's associated FixIt tool for this problem, to no avail. I still get the message "Windows could not start the Windows Firewall on Local Computer..." (see attached jpg for error).

Also, I tried a System Restore (tried 4 restore points), the process failed each time.

Would greatly appreciate any help.

Hello and Welcome -
Can you please list all Antivirus / Antimalware / Firewall programs that you have installed at this time.
More of a chance that one of them are blocking it for now -

Thank You

You could try a 3d-party firewall...to see if the problem is broader than you have painted in your post. Inability to download/use a 3d-party firewall would be an indication that your conception about removing all malware...may be incorrect.

Louis

Thanks for the thoughts, I have simply re-imaged the entire PC which obviously solved the problem.

Thanks for letting us know...happy computing .

Louis