I used to check "disable firewall" in the options, but realized in some cases I need it running or more like being able to configure it. How do I enable it back? It's all greyed out.

have you removed it from your installation using nlite?

if you haven't, then set the 'Windows Firewall & ICS" service to automatic, then start it, and go to control panel and open Firewall, should work fine

I believe I didn't as it's half firewall half connction sharing which nlite mentiones as important. I disabled it under the Unattended section. Now when I run it from control panel it's all greyed out.

nobody knows?
I dont want to reinstall several PCs cause of this...

bledd just told you. Go Start-Run, type services.msc, find service Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), put it to start automatically, and start it.

Cheers

Jeez.
The service IS running. But the firewall settings are greyed out!

Sounds like you removed something which you shouldn't have. That's why I don't advice using nLite to people who don't exactly know what they're doing, no offense.

I know exactly what I am doing, only that the "disable firewall" checkbox probably does a bit more than disabling it.

I've seen greyed out checkboxes in this place, have you tried clicking several times on it?

But I also think it's another service (application layer gateway, network connections, network location awareness, remote access conn. manager...) or a registry entry.

GL

less of the attitude pal, you never said that in your original post(s)

attach your lastsession.ini so we can have a look to see what you've removed.

the fact you say 'several machines' suggests it may not be only for personal use.......

I tested it in MS VirtualPC yesterday and couldn't reproduce it. So much for finding out what's wrong ****.
Fortunately those are desktop PCs at work and there's no need to play with firewall there at all
Still an interesting problem though.