SRP and Windows 8.1

[Reldel]

I've been running SRP on my home computers since finding mechBgon's security guide a few years ago.

My first attempt installing Windows 8.1 Preview was on a laptop that had an existing successful SRP implementation with Windows 8. I installed the preview using the Windows Store method. After the install I found that neither the desktop or metro version of Internet Explorer 11 would open. On Metro, the logo page would show and then close after about ten seconds. Desktop IE would open a blank IE screen with no tabs or anything else, it too would close after about ten seconds. I played around with the set up for a bit but I couldn't solve the problem. I finally figured the install might have had errors, so I reinstalled an image backup of regular Windows 8.

After a couple of days, I tried another store install of the Preview. The results were the same. IE would not work.

A couple of days later I did an install with the ISO version, a clean install. Lo and behold IE, both desktop and metro performed as expected.

After running without problems for 4-5 days, I decided to implement the SRP plan I had been using on Windows 8. I set it up, added the same additional path rules as I had used since last year on Windows 8.

Bingo, as soon as I switched it on, neither desktop or metro IE will work, showing the same problem I already described.

So, something as changed with Windows 8.1 Preview that does not allow the mechBgon SRP to work. I even tried setting up a path rule for both flavors of IE but they will not work. As soon as I delete SRP, both work as expected.

Anybody have an idea how to set up SRP in 8.1 and get IE 11 to work?

 

[mechBgon]

Do you see any SRP-related errors in the Windows logs? Example:

 

[Reldel]

There are no event warnings or errors in the logs, for SRP or anything else when it occurs.

When checking for the errors, I created the SRP again for the test. One more thing I noticed, IE does not even work on an Administrative account while SRP is enforce. Remove SRP and it works.

I also then experimented and created a path rule for C:\Program Files. No go. (Already have Path Rule for C:\Program Files (x86))

Still a dead end.

 

[mechBgon]

If you don't already have a Path Rule for C:\Program Files\WindowsApps then try that next. I discovered this necessity when trying to run a Solitaire card-game app that's a Windows Store app.

 

[Reldel]

Already had that in place.

As a side note, several months ago I found that the Windows 8 Xbox Music app would not run properly without also adding C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.ZuneMusic as a path rule.

A weird observation with the IE SRP problem, all apps have internet function and proper operation even though IE does not.

 

[mechBgon]

That would be a good bug to report at connect.microsoft.com if you have the time for it.

 

[Reldel]

I will.

Thanks for your help and your terrific web site.

 

[Reldel]

Installed released version of Windows 8.1 today and problems running SRP and IE11 have been corrected.

 

[mechBgon]

Installed released version of Windows 8.1 today and problems running SRP and IE11 have been corrected.

That's good news, thanks for the update Reldel.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Does SRP in Win8.1 require Pro?

IMHO, MS should be required to label their versions of Windows without SRP as "With Viruses", and the ones with SRP as "Without Viruses".

 

[Reldel]

Yes, it requires Pro version.

 

[VirtualLarry]

http://www.mechbgon.com/build/SocketA.html

The link at the bottom of that page is bad (404). should be "harddrive" not "HardDrive"

 

[mechBgon]

http://www.mechbgon.com/build/SocketA.html

The link at the bottom of that page is bad (404). should be "harddrive" not "HardDrive"

Thanks for the alert. Most of the site is so out-of-date at this point that I should probably just retire it anyway.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Thanks for the alert. Most of the site is so out-of-date at this point that I should probably just retire it anyway.

Nooooooo....

It's still a helpful site, especially with the updated info about win8 and security, and the updated info about how easy it is to set up Parental controls to block malware in Win7 HP.