The "ESET Personal firewall initialization failed" message is displayed, what should I do?

If you receive an "ESET Personal firewall initialization failed" message, ESET Smart Security may have been improperly installed. To fix this, run the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility before reinstalling ESET Smart Security. Please see the steps below: Download and save the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility, from the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

Run the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility.

Download and save a fresh copy of ESET Smart Security from our web site. Uninstall ESET Smart Security by following steps 1-2, here. Then, follow the steps below according to your operating system. Ensure that the ESET Personal Firewall Service in Local Area Connections is uninstalled:
Windows XP: Click Start → Control Panel → Network connections. Right-click Local Area Connection and select Properties.

Select Eset Personal Firewall and click Uninstall.

Restart your computer.

Reinstall ESET Smart Security.

Windows Vista:
Click Start → Control Panel. In the Network and Internet section, click View network status and tasks.

Click View status to the right of Local Area Connection. Click Properties.

Select Eset Personal Firewall and click Uninstall.

Restart your computer.

Reinstall ESET Smart Security