Just installed MS SP2.....

[Denvers Dawgs]

I just installed Service Pack 2 and have a question. I have mcafee firewall, can I run this along with the microsoft firewall, or do I have to choose 1 or the other?

[bazooka]

Mcafee's firewall is more powerful.

I would use it and turn off the windows firewall.]

If you run two software firewalls, the computer tends to get confused, and the two firewalls will fight each other for control.

[guns1inger]

I run two firewalls quite happily - NIS and Sygate Pro. No problems at all.

I would switch XP FW off in favour of McaFee though

[bazooka]

I run two firewalls quite happily - NIS and Sygate Pro. No problems at all.

I would switch XP FW off in favour of McaFee though

Good for you.

You are the exception to the rule.

Normally the programs would fight each other for control.

[jimmalenko]

Interesting ...

I would assume that two firewalls means setting up the exceptions in both ?

Back to the problem at hand, you could run them side by side, but you'd probably be better off IMO switching off the inbuilt MS one. It's really only there as a default for the millions of users that don't know what a firewall is. That said, it's reasonable, but IMO there are better ones out there.

[bazooka]

This backs up what I said.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/firewall.mspx

Q. Should I use both the built-in firewall and a software firewall from a different company on my Windows XP computer?
A.

No. Running multiple software firewalls is unnecessary for typical home computers, home networking, and small-business networking scenarios. Using two firewalls on the same connection could cause issues with connectivity to the Internet or other unexpected behavior. One firewall, whether it is the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall or a different software firewall, can provide substantial protection for your computer.

[Poppa_Meth]

I personally wouldn't use either one. I'd install a better third party one, like Kerio or Zone Alarm. The MS one from what I hear is pretty basic, blocking incoming traffic but supposedly not outgoing (haven't used it to verify this). McAfee has been having hordes of problems lately and I've hesitant to ever use McAfee or Norton for much of anything anymore. First thing I usually do on a new PC is ditch the included packages and setup AVG Free and Kerio instead along with Spybot and Adaware. These Security Center products IMO try to do everything and end up doing none of it all that well.

[bazooka]

Imho, Zonealarm is junk and will never use it again.

I have used mcafee before and was pleased with it.

Zonealarm renames important system files, and if you uninstall zoneamarm, say goodbye to your net connection.

[Poppa_Meth]

Zonealarm use to be good and is still well rated but I haven't used it in a while either. It started giving me problems with Edonkey after an upgrade and I switched to Kerio with excellent results.

[ViRaL1]

If you have McAfee firewall and it's SP2 compatible, Window$ Firewall should detect it and let it do what it needs to do. Open the firewall applet in Control Panel and see what it says.

[shelbyGT]

Imho, Zonealarm is junk and will never use it again.

I have used mcafee before and was pleased with it.

Zonealarm renames important system files, and if you uninstall zoneamarm, say goodbye to your net connection.

I have uninstalled zonealarm on more than one occasion when I was playing around with different firewalls, and I never once noticed any connection problems.
i was also pleased with mcafee, with that being said.

[stiltman]

Imho, Zonealarm is junk and will never use it again.

I have used mcafee before and was pleased with it.

Zonealarm renames important system files, and if you uninstall zoneamarm, say goodbye to your net connection.

I have uninstalled zonealarm on more than one occasion when I was playing around with different firewalls, and I never once noticed any connection problems.
i was also pleased with mcafee, with that being said.

Ditto, except for the McAfee part

[Denvers Dawgs]

is there anyway to stop the annoying file download-security warning prompt in sp2?

[bazooka]

Imho, Zonealarm is junk and will never use it again.

I have used mcafee before and was pleased with it.

Zonealarm renames important system files, and if you uninstall zoneamarm, say goodbye to your net connection.

I have uninstalled zonealarm on more than one occasion when I was playing around with different firewalls, and I never once noticed any connection problems.
i was also pleased with mcafee, with that being said.

It was several years ago when I had At&TBroadband.

It was the free version of zone alarm.

My e-machine was not capable of running zone alarm very well.

I uninstalled it and lost my connection for about three days.

I reinstalled it and still could not connect.

ZA had renamed a system file and prevented me from using my connection.

After about 5 calls to AT&T Broadband, I finally got someone who knew the answer.

I had to copy that file and rename it, while renaming the other file.old

ZA did not provide support for the free version, and that is the story.

I will never use ZoneAlarm again.

Why people think it is so great is way beyond me.

ZoneAlarm is in my opinion the worst software ever.

[shelbyGT]

well tell us how you really feel

The problems you experience I've never ran into, and in my eyes zonealarm (the free version, not pro) works just fine and dandy.

tis all.

[bazooka]

well tell us how you really feel

The problems you experience I've never ran into, and in my eyes zonealarm (the free version, not pro) works just fine and dandy.

tis all.

Here is the link, just so you don't feel I am making this up.

http://nh2.nohold.net/noHoldCust25/Prod_1/Articles55646/manualuninstall.html

[tekkieman]

I doubt anyone thinks your making it up. However, just because I ate a bad piece of fish 30 years ago does not mean that fish are bad today, or that all fish suck. I run SBC broadband with the free version of ZA, and I have uninstalled it without losing my connection.

[bazooka]

I doubt anyone thinks your making it up. However, just because I ate a bad piece of fish 30 years ago does not mean that fish are bad today, or that all fish suck. I run SBC broadband with the free version of ZA, and I have uninstalled it without losing my connection.

That was a very bad analogy tekkie.

There is a huge difference between eating fish and losing your internet connection because of a renamed system file due to a piece of software.

I am entitled to my opinion.

I have used other firewalls that never did that, so I am only reporting my experience in the hope that it might help someone else that might develop this problem.

[tekkieman]

It was several years ago

Of course you're entitled to your opinion, and we understand that you're reporting your experience. I'm merely making sure that people unstand it's based on data "several years" old!