I've only ever had an issue with one XP update - when I installed XP on my studio PC. every time I booted, I got a BSOD. I managed to figure out the issue via the interweb and uninstall the update that caused it. Not had a problem since 
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Forking Microsoft!!
- Thread starter TheDarkReaver
- Start date
Thanks for the tip! I'll be adding that little anti-McFee executable ("McFee Cleanup") to my "utility bag" for restoring folk's desktops. So many darn things to remove from malfunctioning systems these days.. When a client finally throws up their hands and screams: "I've had it!" Thats when I get to sit down to analyze and restore functionality... & immunize when possible...
All that is fine until you connect it to a network. Then it is a different game all together.
I haven't updated windows in long, long time. So no, I'm not having problems.
However, if other people are having problems with their internet, I don't think we'll be hearing from them.
However, if other people are having problems with their internet, I don't think we'll be hearing from them.
That's good, except it was ZoneAlarm.
Earlier he said it was due to some lingering McAfee files or something. That sounds more like a McAfee issue than a Windows or Zonealarm issue.
bc
it was a bit of everything in the end, when i downloaded the new firewall it caused a new problem that was similar.
I lost my Internet access to the ZoneAlarm / Windows thing. But only one computer, though the other one presumably is running the same ZoneAlarm and Windows updates.
Question for IT guru's: Is the built-in Windows firewall good enough, or do I really need a third party firewall?
Too bad I depend on Windows for a couple of important apps.
Question for IT guru's: Is the built-in Windows firewall good enough, or do I really need a third party firewall?
Too bad I depend on Windows for a couple of important apps.
You've gotta pity Microsoft at times. They've been alerted to this problem and released a fix pretty damn quick but because other companies haven't been as quick to release updates the end user is getting pissed off at MS about something that they've actually done right for once.
They could have delayed releasing this patch so that AVs and firewalls would be fixed first, but that would have left people's machines vulnerable. We'd never have known that, but it would have been the case. Instead they release the fix as fast as they can and people just bitch.
They could have delayed releasing this patch so that AVs and firewalls would be fixed first, but that would have left people's machines vulnerable. We'd never have known that, but it would have been the case. Instead they release the fix as fast as they can and people just bitch.
I have a DSL modem with built in wired and wireless hubs, so I doubt it has a firewall. Is that a good assumption?
It seems that it was something to do with an XP update and Zone Alarm.
Invalid Link Removed
It's as good as any other software firewall... it blocks ports and ICMPs and allows traffic through if / when you configure it.
Personally, I don't use software firewalls anymore - as I wrote above, I siffered a DDOS a while back and while the firewall is trying to cope with all of the ICMPs, your computer grinds to a halt. It's better to have a dedicated hardware system that specifically deals with that kind of thing... but it's not in everyone's budget!
Personally, I have nothing against Microsoft. They could monopolise the market for all I care - their software and technologies allows me to earn the money I earn and advances computers a lot quicker than any other company.
Microsoft do a bloody good job if you ask me - unfortunately there are thousands, if not millions, of different PC configurations that their operating systems have to deal with, and no software is perfect.
The Microsoft haters can bite my shiny metal ass... they're just jealous. Some of them are like hippies - whinging about an "ideal" free source world, when the reality is that in order for computers to advance, companies need to make money on a mass scale (for massive R&D departments etc). I bet 90% of them don't do anything to "relieve" the so-called "problem" of Microsoft.
Change the record - Microsoft are here to stay and there's nothing you or anyone else can do about it. Learn to work with the operating systems instead of whinging about problems. If you've got an issue, submit it to Microsoft... that's probably the best thing you can do.
FDeck-
A I am assuming that your modem is also a router, since you have a hub, which is multiple network connection points, and you can hook up multiple PCs to it. Basically, your ISP gives you one public IP Address, which is visible and accessible by the outside world. However, your Modem is the one that is assigned this IP Address, and most likely, it gives your internally connected personal PCs a private IP Address, like 192.168.x.x, or 10.x.x.x, something like that. These Private IP Addresses are not accessible from the outside, as they are not routable on the Internet. However, a firewall configured on your Modem would do certain things that might dissuade potential attackers from trying to gain entry to your network, the basic fuinctions of a home firewall would be to a) not respond to Ping requests, and b) not respond to port scans. These are the two methods that hackers will use to try and gain entry to systems.
As for the personal PC software firewall, they are a good thing to have. Just because you have a firewall on your router, which stops outside entities from getting into your network without your permission, they do not stop potential attacks/unwanted activities within your network. If you go to a wwebsite and unknowingly download a trojan, the hardware firewall on your router will not stop that, as it sees that you, the PC on the inside Trusted network, is making the connection and requesting the download. Now you have a trojan on your machine (which your AV software may or may not pick up). If you are running a personal firewall software on your PC, such as ZoneAlarm, it will detect that a new application (the trojan) is trying to connect out of your PC, either to your local network to spread to other PCs on your home network, or out to the Internet, to do God knows what. Personal software firewalls are a good idea to stay really secure and safe, especially if you do some sketchy web surfing. Hardware firewalls (router) are an extremely good idea, and IMO, no matter how technical you are, AV software is an absolute must. Maybe people get away without it, but I have Nod32 installed an see no lag and have absolutely no issues with it.
Hope this helps.
Scott C
