Windows 10 Base Filtering Engine issues... Windows 10 Professional, fully updated 21H2

[Runnybabbit]

About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that the slider switch on my Emsisoft AntiMalware home security, which activates/deactivates the Windows Defender firewall, was in the 'off' position. Thinking it strange, I set it to 'on'. More strange though, as 10 seconds later, it reset itself to 'off'. Further checking revealed it to be greyed out.

This had me pursue the issue, and I discovered the culprit is the Windows 10 Base Filtering Engine. It is normally set to run automatically, and should have started with boot-up. Checking it out in services.msc, I switched it on directly, but it failed. Nothing I did, made it work. Which concerned me, as it doesn't matter whether I want to use the built-in MS Defender firewall, or a 3rd-party product, no firewall will work without it.

I tried various firewall 'fixers', all to no avail. I then went to my go-to favourite fixer, tweaking.com. No... still didn't work! That led me to a Windows repair install/upgrade install, keeping all of my files, data, and settings. That seemed to work initially, but I noted that my Windows store was broken, my x-box for pc, also, and my MSFS2020 wouldn't boot, despite my needing to do the next update release.

4 days later, the firewall, and of course, the base filtering engine, failed again. Back to square-one! Additionally, Windows will no longer allow me the luxury of another repair/upgrade install, it 'assumes' that I don't need it! Back to Tweaking.com, run all of their repair options, and no, nothing. Not the firewall working, no MS Store, no X-Box, no MSFS2020.

If anyone at all has any ideas on where I need to proceed next, I would appreciate all sensible suggestions! Thanks in advance to anyone who is tempted to assist...

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are experiencing a challenging issue with the Windows Base Filtering Engine, which is crucial for firewall operation in Windows 10. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem:

Windows Services:​

1. Check Dependency Services: Verify that all services on which the Base Filtering Engine depends are running correctly. These dependencies include Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and Windows Firewall.
2. Automatic Start: Ensure that the Base Filtering Engine service is set to start automatically. If it fails to start automatically, there might be a deeper issue.
3. Error Log Analysis: Examine the Event Viewer logs for any error messages related to the Base Filtering Engine service. This can provide insights into what might be causing the failure.

   System File Checker (SFC) and DISM:​

4. Run SFC Scan: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run sfc /scannow to check and repair system file integrity.
5. DISM Tool: Next, run the DISM tool by using the command dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth. This tool can repair Windows system image issues that SFC might not fix.

   Firewall Configuration:​

6. Reset Firewall Settings: You can try resetting Windows Firewall settings to default. Search for "Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security" and choose "Restore Defaults."
7. Group Policy: Go to Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) and navigate to Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> System Services. Check if the Base Filtering Engine is set to Auto.

   System Restore Point:​

8. Roll Back: If the issue started after a recent software change or update, consider restoring to a point before the problem occurred using a System Restore Point.

   Additional Suggestions:​

9. Update Windows: Ensure that your Windows 10 is up to date with the latest updates from Microsoft.
10. Third-Party Software: If troubleshooting built-in tools doesn't work, consider using specialized repair tools from reputable sources. If none of these methods help resolve the Base Filtering Engine issue, consider seeking professional assistance from IT support or a Microsoft service center to diagnose and resolve the problem at a deeper level.