windows firewall problem

[Guest]

i am continually losing my i-net connection and am unable to update my virus
program. Started with my service provider whom said my modem is good and the
problem is with my firewall. They then told me to close it. Does that mean
turn it off???? I currently run windows xp and do not know alot about the
firewall but i do know i should have it on and active. Help me please

 

[Jerry]

Go to www.zonelabs.com and download the free version of ZoneAlarm, install
it and turn off the lousy XP firewall.

 

[Guest]

i am continually losing my i-net connection and am unable to update my virus
program. Started with my service provider whom said my modem is good and
the problem is with my firewall. They then told me to close it. Does that mean
turn it off???? I currently run windows xp and do not know alot about the
firewall but i do know i should have it on and active. Help me please.

This doen't seem like a firewall problem to me, and certainly not a Windows
firewall-related problem. It may be your network connection itself that is
out of whack. Go to Control Panel, click on Network and Internet
Connections, click on Network Connections, right click on the connection that
is giving you trouble (there may be only one), and click on "repair."

By the way, whenever someone tells you to turn off your firewall in order to
get a better connection to the Internet, you are dealing with a moron who is
totally clueless. Very bad advice! Try calling your ISP again. Unless you
are dealing with a very small ISP, you are virtually 100% certain to get
another technical support person and chances are the next person will
actually know how to diagnose and solve your problem instead of telling you
to do a dumb dumb thing by tuning off your firewall.

Ken

 

[David Beder [MSFT]]

It's not unheard of for ISPs to not be compatible with firewalls (eg, I've
been told that AOL requires you to enable ICMP for broadband or they'll drop
your connection, believing that the computer is powered down.). When you
call your isp back, make sure the tech explains exactly why their service is
incompatible and what you can do to enable the minimum required exceptions.
If he's not able to do this, consider getting another isp.