A8N32-SLI, nVFirewall 6.82 (X16 version) file-download corruption

[John Lewis]

The nVFirewall release contained in the V6.82 driver package for the
AMD/X16 chip-set ( 10/26/05, the latest on both the nVidia website and
the A8N32-SLI install disk ) corrupts all downloaded .zip and
self-extracting .exe files unless the Firewall is manually turned OFF
completely in the nVFirewall UI before attempting any such download.
It is not sufficient just to manually instruct NVFirewall while in one
of its "active modes" to override the download warning and download
the file anyway... somebody at nVidia omitted to program in a
temporary window of download transparency for this user-override.
Very likely that the 6.70 package release on the same day (10/26/05)
for the normal nForce4 chip-set has the same problem. Zero download
errors when nVFirewall is manually turned off in the NVFirewall UI
before downloading. Seems as if it will be easier just to use the XP
SP2 one and forget nVFirewall entirely..... Pity that nVidia have all
their best programmers and QC gurus working on their video drivers....
sigh.....

John Lewis
- Technology early-birds are flying guinea-pigs.

 

[milleron]

The nVFirewall release contained in the V6.82 driver package for the
AMD/X16 chip-set ( 10/26/05, the latest on both the nVidia website and
the A8N32-SLI install disk ) corrupts all downloaded .zip and
self-extracting .exe files unless the Firewall is manually turned OFF
completely in the nVFirewall UI before attempting any such download.
It is not sufficient just to manually instruct NVFirewall while in one
of its "active modes" to override the download warning and download
the file anyway... somebody at nVidia omitted to program in a
temporary window of download transparency for this user-override.
Very likely that the 6.70 package release on the same day (10/26/05)
for the normal nForce4 chip-set has the same problem. Zero download
errors when nVFirewall is manually turned off in the NVFirewall UI
before downloading. Seems as if it will be easier just to use the XP
SP2 one and forget nVFirewall entirely..... Pity that nVidia have all
their best programmers and QC gurus working on their video drivers....
sigh.....

John Lewis
- Technology early-birds are flying guinea-pigs.

Right. I don't think I've ever read a review or Usenet post
indicating that the nForce firewall can be made to work without
causing problems. It's pretty clear that nVidia released an alpha
build of this hardware/software combination, and it's reprehensible
that they don't appear ever to have acknowledged that it should not be
used yet.

Ron

 

[RJT]

Right. I don't think I've ever read a review or Usenet post
indicating that the nForce firewall can be made to work without
causing problems. It's pretty clear that nVidia released an alpha
build of this hardware/software combination, and it's reprehensible
that they don't appear ever to have acknowledged that it should not be
used yet.

Well, it can be used, and sure enough, it will make your system a whole
lot safer when all .exe and .zip downloads are corrupted - I have yet to
see a virus survive that.

I bought the A8N SLI Deluxe thinking this hardware firewall would be a
great idea, as I can't be bothered to set up the firewall in my router,
but would love to have something other than my CPU do this work.
Unfortunately, it has turned out to be the one feature that has caused
me to completely reinstall both Windows XP and x64 over a dozen times,
as well as restore images frequently. And then I'm not counting the
times I tried solving the problems I had with the nvfirewall by trying
do de- or reinstall drivers.

It's a shame really, because all the other features work so well, and
ootb. I still think Asus makes top quality boards, but this little
nvfirewall gimmick seems to be more of a marketing feature of the board.
Perhaps the boys in the marketing dept provide the support and drivers
for it as well...

 

[John Lewis]

Well, it can be used, and sure enough, it will make your system a whole
lot safer when all .exe and .zip downloads are corrupted - I have yet to
see a virus survive that.

At present the firewall6.82 brings up the totally legitimate requester
warning that a file download is attempted and "does the user want to
proceed?" If the user says "YES" (taking full responsibility for the
consequences) , then the firewall should temporarily turn itself off
completely for that file alone --- it doesn't... ( when nVfirewall is
turned off manually in the nVF user-interface no errors occur)... this
is just a simple stupid programming (and QC) blunder !!!

John Lewis