Your best bet is to disable the Windows Firewall and download the free Zone Alarm firewall, which is much better and more user friendly, and does a better job. Windows Firewall has had issues from day one.

To disable, go to Start > Control Panel > Security Center then turn off the Firewall. Be sure the other 2 options are set to ON: Automatic Updates and Virus Protection.

Then download the FREE ZoneLabs Zone Alarm from http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/trial_zaFamily/trial_zaFamily.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en

Be sure you have a good Anti-virus program running and be sure to subscribe yearly to ensure you keep getting the latest virus definition files downloaded.

Microsoft's Windows Defender is a free program and will help protect against spyware. It runs in real time for constant protection: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Adaware and Spybot Search and Destroy are 2 other utilities you can download for free and run on a regular basis to check for spyware.

Keeping your PC protected keeps yours as well as other computers safe.

Maybe a better choice of words would have been, there are better personal firewall products out there than the built in Windows one. The original post is one example of an issue:
"I am unable to activate or set my Windows Firewall settings back again, the message I get is as follows:

Due to an unidentified problem, windows cannot display windows firewall settings."

From past experience I have found using a third party firewall (especially if it's free, although paying for full versions would provide added protection) works much better. I have never had an issue with Zone Alarm or Black Ice Defender.

Was just trying to provide some options to the requestor.