Frequently Asked Question

If you receive an 'ESET Personal firewall initialization failed' message, ESET Smart Security 4.0 may have been improperly installed. To fix this, run the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility before reinstalling ESET Smart Security 4.0. Please follow the steps below:

1. Download and save the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility, from the Microsoft Knowledgebase article, here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
2. Run the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility.
3. Download and save a fresh copy of ESET Smart Security 4.0 using the links below for Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista.
   

   

   
   Important! Please check your operating system version before downloading.

   
   32-bit:
   
   ESET Smart Security 4.0: http://download.eset.com/download/win/ess/ess_nt32_enu.msi
   
   64-bit:
   
   ESET Smart Security 4.0: http://download.eset.com/download/win/ess/ess_nt64_enu.msi
   

   

   
   NOTE:: You will need your unique username and password to download your ESET security product.

4. Click Start → Programs → ESET → Uninstall. After you uninstall, you will need to restart your computer.
5. After restarting, click Start → My Computer. Navigate to C:\Program Files and delete the ESET folder.
6. Follow the steps below according to your operating system.

Ensure that the ESET Personal Firewall Service in Local Area Connections is uninstalled:

Windows XP:

1. Click Start → Control Panel → Network connections. Right-click Local Area Connection and select Properties.
2. Select Eset Personal Firewall and click Uninstall.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Reinstall ESET Smart Security.

Windows Vista:

1. Click Start → Control Panel. In the Network and Internet section, click View network status and tasks.
2. View status to the right of Local Area Connection. Click Properties.
   
   
3. Select ESET Personal Firewall and click Uninstall.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Reinstall ESET Smart Security.