Hello. I'm running Windows 10, version 1703, 64 bit. At the moment I'm running windows firewall along with the firewall in my u-verse modem. One of the reasons I'm using windows firewall is because in the Advanced Sharing Settings, "network discovery" and "file and printer sharing" are turned "off" in "private", "guest and public", and "all networks" sections. If I use a third party firewall, along with the hardware firewall, and turn off windows firewall, those settings are all "on" except in the "all networks" section. Is my PC vulnerable with network discovery and file and printer sharing on in the "private" and "guest and public" section, and off in the "all networks" section? P.S. The only reason I'm a little nervous about using windows firewall is because it doesn't pass leak tests.
Windows Firewall is secure. Are you running a broadband modem/router? Then your hardware firewall should already block unauthorized traffic at the source. WF provides additional gateway protection. Easiest way to configure WF settings is with a GUI front-end like Windows Firewall Control or TinyWall.