WinXP Home SP1 question

[Brian]

I've got a question.

I'm running WinXP Home Service Pack 1 here on 3 machines, all of which go through a D-Link
DI-604 Router. I have read that it's a good Idea to run a software firewall as well as the NAT
hardware firewall. My problem is when I turn on the WinXP built in firewall, the computer
dis-appears from my home network which I'm sure is what it's supose to do. How can I run
the XP firewall and still be seen on my home lan ???? Thanks in advance..........

Brian

 

[Chuck]

I've got a question.

I'm running WinXP Home Service Pack 1 here on 3 machines, all of which go through a D-Link
DI-604 Router. I have read that it's a good Idea to run a software firewall as well as the NAT
hardware firewall. My problem is when I turn on the WinXP built in firewall, the computer
dis-appears from my home network which I'm sure is what it's supose to do. How can I run
the XP firewall and still be seen on my home lan ???? Thanks in advance..........

Brian

Brian,

If you have multiple computers, running a personal ("software") firewall on each
makes good sense. But you do have to configure the firewall properly, so
Windows Networking (file sharing, browsing "my home network") can work.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/12/windows-firewall-and-windows.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/12/windows-firewall-and-windows.html

 

[Brian]

Brian,

If you have multiple computers, running a personal ("software") firewall on each
makes good sense. But you do have to configure the firewall properly, so
Windows Networking (file sharing, browsing "my home network") can work.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/12/windows-firewall-and-windows.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/12/windows-firewall-and-windows.html

Chuck,

Please re-read my message, it clearly states Service Pack . The links are for Service Pack 2 !!!!!

Thanks
Brian

 

[Bob Willard]

I've got a question.

I'm running WinXP Home Service Pack 1 here on 3 machines, all of which go through a D-Link
DI-604 Router. I have read that it's a good Idea to run a software firewall as well as the NAT
hardware firewall. My problem is when I turn on the WinXP built in firewall, the computer
dis-appears from my home network which I'm sure is what it's supose to do. How can I run
the XP firewall and still be seen on my home lan ???? Thanks in advance..........

Brian

The NAT firewall in the router protects you (pretty well) from inbound traffic,
but gives no protection against malware on your PCs phoning home. For that
reason, I recommend a software firewall on each PC to guard against outbound
traffic.

But XP's built-in firewall only guards against inbound traffic, and does nothing
for outbound traffic; hence, behind a NAT router, XP's firewall is redundant
and IMHO nearly useless.

For outbound protection, I have used ZoneAlarm (www.ZoneLabs.com) for years;
I use ZA$ on one PC and ZAF on a few others. {There are other firewalls, but
ZA$ and ZAF have worked fine for me.}

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I'm running WinXP Home Service Pack 1 here on 3 machines, all of which go through a D-Link
DI-604 Router. I have read that it's a good Idea to run a software firewall as well as the NAT
hardware firewall. My problem is when I turn on the WinXP built in firewall, the computer
dis-appears from my home network which I'm sure is what it's supose to do. How can I run
the XP firewall and still be seen on my home lan ???? Thanks in advance..........

Brian

To share files on a LAN with SP1's Internet Connection Firewall
enabled, open the following ports in the Services tab of the network
connection's advanced settings: TCP 139, TCP 445, UDP 137, UDP 138.

Any reason that you haven't updated those machines to Service Pack 2?
They're years behind in critical updates and security patches from
Microsoft.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Guest]

Hi Steve,

To share files on a LAN with SP1's Internet Connection Firewall
enabled, open the following ports in the Services tab of the network
connection's advanced settings: TCP 139, TCP 445, UDP 137, UDP 138.

Woulld you please explain how to do it once you are in the Services tab?

Any reason that you haven't updated those machines to Service Pack 2?

I don't know about Brian but I installed it once but then the computer would
start in a loop and I had to reinstall Windows. So I am a bit scared to do it
again.
Pascal

 

[Guest]

Hi Bob,
Do you have any opinion on Sygate?
Pascal

 

[Chuck]

Chuck,

Please re-read my message, it clearly states Service Pack . The links are for Service Pack 2 !!!!!

Thanks
Brian

Brian,

I apologise for giving you non-relevant references !!!!! You must realise that
not too many folks like you stick with SP1, and for good reason. ICF was a pain
in the you know what to work with. You have to open the required ports
manually. IIRC, that was ports 137-139 and 445, TCP and UDP. IOW, a total of 8
exceptions.

Why are you still on SP1?

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Hi Steve,
Woulld you please explain how to do it once you are in the Services tab?

I don't know about Brian but I installed it once but then the computer would
start in a loop and I had to reinstall Windows. So I am a bit scared to do it
again.
Pascal

Hi, Pascal. To open port TCP 139 in the Services tab, click the Add
button and enter these values:

Description of service: TCP 139
Name or IP address: 127.0.0.1
(can also be the computer's name or "localhost")
External Port number: 139
TCP or UDP: TCP
Internal Port number: 139 or leave blank

Follow a similar procedure for the other ports.

I'm sorry that installing SP2 caused you such problems. It's such an
important upgrade, and there have been so many critical updates and
security patches since then, that I think you should give it another
try. Since you have concerns about it, you can post a message in one
of these news groups and ask for suggestions on how to do the upgrade
safely:

microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Bob Willard]

Hi Bob,
Do you have any opinion on Sygate?
Pascal

:

Nope. I've had good luck with ZA, and it does what I need, so I won't change.

 

[Brian]

Brian,

I apologise for giving you non-relevant references !!!!! You must realise that
not too many folks like you stick with SP1, and for good reason. ICF was a pain
in the you know what to work with. You have to open the required ports
manually. IIRC, that was ports 137-139 and 445, TCP and UDP. IOW, a total of 8
exceptions.

Why are you still on SP1?

Chuck,

I follow several XP and DVD related newsgroups and when SP2 came out a good amount
of users claimed alot of problems with alot of different software (some of which I use) as well as
blue screens, memory exceptions, failure to boot etc. Hell, even the new WGA that "must be
installed first" is telling people their legal XP install is pirated. Hell, SP2 even killed some MS
Office installs. Bet that went over big in alot of business office's... My XP installs are legal and
I don't need Gates spying on me. WGA should be classified as spyware/malware. Why do
I want to install more of MS's screwups and security holes. And I just love the generic "This Patch
prevents hackers from compromising your computer"..... Why can't Gates say what the patch really
does ???? WinNT4.0 had 6 service packs to try and fix all the holes before MS dropped support, How
many service packs is XP gonna need ???? I can see it now, Service Pack 91a !!!!!!!!

I have all the SP1 patches from MS installed and it ain't broke so I'm not fixing it........

Nuff said !!!!

Brian...........

 

[Chuck]

Chuck,

I follow several XP and DVD related newsgroups and when SP2 came out a good amount
of users claimed alot of problems with alot of different software (some of which I use) as well as
blue screens, memory exceptions, failure to boot etc. Hell, even the new WGA that "must be
installed first" is telling people their legal XP install is pirated. Hell, SP2 even killed some MS
Office installs. Bet that went over big in alot of business office's... My XP installs are legal and
I don't need Gates spying on me. WGA should be classified as spyware/malware. Why do
I want to install more of MS's screwups and security holes. And I just love the generic "This Patch
prevents hackers from compromising your computer"..... Why can't Gates say what the patch really
does ???? WinNT4.0 had 6 service packs to try and fix all the holes before MS dropped support, How
many service packs is XP gonna need ???? I can see it now, Service Pack 91a !!!!!!!!

OK, Brian,

I hear you. I'm trying to avoid WGA myself, especially now that it includes a
resident program, periodically checking (not when you do updates) whether your
copy of Windows is genuine. That's spyware.

All that aside, SP2 included a lot of major security enhancements. By not
getting SP2, you're vulnerable to the problems that it fixes. And to every
newly discovered security problem. Plus you have to figure out Internet
Connection Firewall. Windows Firewall was a big improvement there.

You think Windows XP is unstable with SP2? What about with changes on top of
SP1? Or have you frozen your computer completely?

To pull a figure out of thin air, if 99% of the computers in the world have
upgraded to SP2, I would bet that 99% of the testing done to any software that's
developed, for Windows XP, will be done against an SP2 base. Microsoft doesn't
have unlimited resources. The bulk of any testing, that they do, will be
against XP SP2. Do you like running untested software?

Now if you don't plan to add ANY software, ever, to your computer, you are only
vulnerable to the problems in your current software. But if you EVER Plan to
add a new browser, or application, and you stay with SP1, don't expect it to
perform very well, if at all.

You think SP2 is unstable? Try adding any software, in the future, to your SP1.

 

[Brian]

OK, Brian,

I hear you. I'm trying to avoid WGA myself, especially now that it includes a
resident program, periodically checking (not when you do updates) whether your
copy of Windows is genuine. That's spyware.

What does Gates get away with installing spyware ????? I didn't know that because I have no WGA
installed. I do have SP2 here on a cd that I downloaded before MS became the WGA Gustapo !!!!!!

All that aside, SP2 included a lot of major security enhancements. By not
getting SP2, you're vulnerable to the problems that it fixes. And to every
newly discovered security problem. Plus you have to figure out Internet
Connection Firewall. Windows Firewall was a big improvement there.

And the free Zone Alarm is mucho better and it doesn't spy on you !!!!!

You think Windows XP is unstable with SP2? What about with changes on top of
SP1? Or have you frozen your computer completely?

I don't think XP is unstable, I never said that. I've had this PC 4 years and it's never locked to a
point where I needed to hit the reset. I've had to end a task a time or two but thats it. I think
this is the best running Windows so far. I have used 95, 98, NT4 - WS SP4, Win2000 Pro SP2 and now
XP Home SP1 and like XP the best. I don't have many problems probably because I only install
what I use and not every piece of software I get my hands on just to say I have it...... So I guess
my answer is No, I haven't frozen my computer completely......

To pull a figure out of thin air, if 99% of the computers in the world have
upgraded to SP2, I would bet that 99% of the testing done to any software that's
developed, for Windows XP, will be done against an SP2 base. Microsoft doesn't
have unlimited resources. The bulk of any testing, that they do, will be
against XP SP2. Do you like running untested software?

Untested ???? I think any reputable software company tests there product to the best of there
ability on as many platforms as possible. I have yet to get any upgrades for what I use that
require SP2. I also don't install every update that comes down the pipe. If somethings working
good why fix it ????? I'm using Nero 6.6.0.16 and have no need to upgrade to 7.xx - My copy of Word
XP works great and has never been upgraded, My Norton AV 2003 works great still, My Quicken 2002
still balances my checkbook perfectly and the list goes on. IE will always suck so why bother ????
The boogie man (Gates) hasn't gotten me yet...............

Now if you don't plan to add ANY software, ever, to your computer, you are only
vulnerable to the problems in your current software. But if you EVER Plan to
add a new browser, or application, and you stay with SP1, don't expect it to
perform very well, if at all.

I'll let you know if and when that ever happens........

You think SP2 is unstable? Try adding any software, in the future, to your SP1.

If the need arises I will. If and only if the need ever arises that something demands SP2 and I
can't find an alternative (which I doubt) then and only then will I stick SP2 on an old machine that
I don't care much about.

This whole argument is based on the assumption that I will be using XP forever and this will be the
last operating system ever, Vista is around the corner and I'm sure it will have a pantload of
problems and security holes. Thats all MS knows.............

YMMV

Brian

 

[Chuck]

What does Gates get away with installing spyware ????? I didn't know that because I have no WGA
installed. I do have SP2 here on a cd that I downloaded before MS became the WGA Gustapo !!!!!!

And the free Zone Alarm is mucho better and it doesn't spy on you !!!!!



I don't think XP is unstable, I never said that. I've had this PC 4 years and it's never locked to a
point where I needed to hit the reset. I've had to end a task a time or two but thats it. I think
this is the best running Windows so far. I have used 95, 98, NT4 - WS SP4, Win2000 Pro SP2 and now
XP Home SP1 and like XP the best. I don't have many problems probably because I only install
what I use and not every piece of software I get my hands on just to say I have it...... So I guess
my answer is No, I haven't frozen my computer completely......


Untested ???? I think any reputable software company tests there product to the best of there
ability on as many platforms as possible. I have yet to get any upgrades for what I use that
require SP2. I also don't install every update that comes down the pipe. If somethings working
good why fix it ????? I'm using Nero 6.6.0.16 and have no need to upgrade to 7.xx - My copy of Word
XP works great and has never been upgraded, My Norton AV 2003 works great still, My Quicken 2002
still balances my checkbook perfectly and the list goes on. IE will always suck so why bother ????
The boogie man (Gates) hasn't gotten me yet...............


I'll let you know if and when that ever happens........


If the need arises I will. If and only if the need ever arises that something demands SP2 and I
can't find an alternative (which I doubt) then and only then will I stick SP2 on an old machine that
I don't care much about.

This whole argument is based on the assumption that I will be using XP forever and this will be the
last operating system ever, Vista is around the corner and I'm sure it will have a pantload of
problems and security holes. Thats all MS knows.............

Vista will make it even more interesting. Don't expect just any computer,
currently running XP, to automatically run Vista. But as MS moves on with
Vista, they won't be supporting XP SP1 as much either.

So you've completely frozen your hardware and software too? How quaint. Don't
expect your browser to work with every web site in the future. Every hardware
component needs drivers. Don't expect to run down to Walmart and buy a new NIC
or video card, and have it run under XP SP1, either.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/05/windows-xp-and-service-packs.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/05/windows-xp-and-service-packs.html

 

[Brian]

Vista will make it even more interesting. Don't expect just any computer,
currently running XP, to automatically run Vista. But as MS moves on with
Vista, they won't be supporting XP SP1 as much either.

So you've completely frozen your hardware and software too? How quaint. Don't
expect your browser to work with every web site in the future. Every hardware
component needs drivers. Don't expect to run down to Walmart and buy a new NIC
or video card, and have it run under XP SP1, either.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/05/windows-xp-and-service-packs.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/05/windows-xp-and-service-packs.html

This is getting old Chuck,

(A) If I were to upgrade my OS to Vista it wouldn't be until I also upgraded my PC....

(B) I'm sure Mozilla will keep me upgraded - I don't use IE, it's full of security problems and
frankly it SUCKS !!!!!!!

(C) I don't shop for computer hardware at WallyWorld.......... Like MS, they suck !!!!!!!!!!!

(D) All of the above !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now lets drop this neverending thread.............

 

[Chuck]

This is getting old Chuck,

(A) If I were to upgrade my OS to Vista it wouldn't be until I also upgraded my PC....

(B) I'm sure Mozilla will keep me upgraded - I don't use IE, it's full of security problems and
frankly it SUCKS !!!!!!!

(C) I don't shop for computer hardware at WallyWorld.......... Like MS, they suck !!!!!!!!!!!

(D) All of the above !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now lets drop this neverending thread.............

Sorry, Brian.

I'm not preaching to you, I'm preaching to the hundreds of others who will read
this thread later.

Your whining is old too. I've heard it before, many times. I'm not making
anything up, nor on the spur of the moment. I'm not at all quick of wit.

Like the old auto mechanic commercial selling (I think) motor oil. Pay me now,
or pay me later. Upgrade now, or I'll be talking to you later.

You came for advice. Sorry if the bluntness displeases you. So let's get back
to business.

Did you get ICF configured? Steve and I knew about how to configure ICF, though
not every helper here will, forever. More importantly, did tuning ICF solve the
problem? Your reported symptom suggests a browser problem (I'm not discussing
Internet Explorer here). The browser is a lot of fun (not haha either) to work
with. Read my articles, if you feel the need.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/10/irregularities-in-workgroup-visibility.html