[openmind]

It could be that the Windows service is set to manul start instead of automatic. To check go to:

Start > Run > Type "services.msc" and hit enter.

Scroll down until you find the Windows Firewall service and double click it.

On the General Tab, make sure that the Startup type is set to Automatic and the service is started. Click OK and close the services box.

There should be no reason for it to be on manual and if it is then you could have spyware/malware on your machine as suggested above.