|
Post by kunuma on Jul 9, 2008 20:39:09 GMT 1
Heeelp! My firewall (Zone Alarm) has suddenly had a hissy fit and decided it is much safer if I am not allowed to access the internet at all, sort of totally safe browsing!! I've had to turn it off to get on (took me two hours to work out what was going on duh!) but I know I shouldn't use the computer without one, can anyone recommend a FREE firewall that works with Windows XP?
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Jul 9, 2008 21:18:22 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by kunuma on Jul 9, 2008 22:26:41 GMT 1
Drat, not for the first time I desperately wish that computers had been invented while I was still at school! I've downloaded one of those firewalls twice, but the computer says it can't open it! I'll try one of the others tomorrrow! I think I messed something up when i downloaded a whole load of 'Java' trying to see the three D horse game site! It downloaded OK but then didn't work, and then the computer crashed - do you think I should try and get rid of the 'Java' stuff?
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Jul 9, 2008 22:32:11 GMT 1
kunuma do you know how to do a computer restore? If so restore it to the point before you installed all the stuff and you started having probs. If not let me know and I'll explain how to do it.
|
|
|
Post by kunuma on Jul 10, 2008 16:17:54 GMT 1
My idea of a computer restore is to put this one in a skip and find another one! ;D Seriously though - i am totally useless because I have had to teach myself, and so actually have no idea at all what I am doing most of the time! This computer is a Time one, (not by choice, Woolworth's pulled a fast one on me because I didn't evn know what acomputer looked like at the time!!) It has never been properly set up, and so doesn't work like it should - but it had been fine until I seemed to upset Zone Alarm - it's working fine now with no firewall - at least until it gets taken over by cyber aliens coming down the wires. It's an ordinary modem, not wireless. My virus thingy is Avast, which doesn't seem to have a firewall, so should I try putting the other one on - or - should I delete and then redownload Zone Alarm??
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Jul 10, 2008 20:39:37 GMT 1
Forgot to ask - have you got windows xp or windows 98. I dont think 98 has the restore option tho it may have cant remember! Restoring the computer to an earlier setting gets rid of any changes that have been made to settings, stuff installed etc, so its the quickest and easiest way to solve such problems. (But you wont lose any work you have done, files you hve saved, etc.
For XP: You go to the start menu, then help and support, then click on computer restore then restore my computer to an earlier point, a little calendar will come up and shows you various system checkpoint dates. Find the one just before your probs started and click on it. The comp will then be restored to that point. If you have 98 you can try looking for the function it may still be on there somewhere!
If you cant find a restore option then I would recommend uninstalling zone alarm and re-installing it. But I find that once it starts playing up thats it! I had to completely get rid of mine but AVG seems just as good and has anti virus and firewall.
|
|
|
Post by garej on Jul 11, 2008 18:31:50 GMT 1
Forgot to ask - have you got windows xp or windows 98. I dont think 98 has the restore option tho it may have cant remember! Windows 98 doesnt have the restore option, neither does Windows 2000 or NT. Only XP and Vista have that option.
|
|
|
Post by kunuma on Jul 11, 2008 19:40:25 GMT 1
Well would you believe it- it wasn't my fault!! Apparently Windows downloaded a security update which totally b*****ed up Zone Alarm! Would have been nice of them to tell me - instead of me trying to disassemble my computer! >>>>>>>>>>>> Microsoft released four patches - all rated important - as part of its regular Patch Tuesday update cycle, one of which left ZoneAlarm users locked out the internet.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Jul 11, 2008 20:22:40 GMT 1
Is it working OK now?
|
|
|
Post by kunuma on Jul 11, 2008 21:11:43 GMT 1
I've reloaded the 'fixed' Zone Alarm from the site - the telling part will be when I restart it!!
|
|
|
Post by Claire on Jul 11, 2008 22:17:17 GMT 1
Good luck
|
|