Could anyone tell me why when I go into Security Centre and check the Firewall - my Zone Alarm is on (correct) but Comodo firewall is reported as being on also. (Comodo was uninstalled and everything i could think of to delete refering to comodo was deleted.)

is it anything to worry about?

Windows is saying that there are 2 or more firewalls

Hello,

I doubt if it is anything to worry about, security centre rarely knows whats going on If you go to the search tool make sure it searches hidden files and folders and search for comodo. Also, if you go to start and run type msconfig select the startup tab and see if its there and then the services tab to see if its there. Remember to back up.

This may be a daft question, but how do I 'back up' in Vista?

While you should back up on a regular basis, you don't really need to back up unless you make significant changes. this link will explain backing up
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/...ils/backup.mspx

Did you find anything in msconfig or services.msc

Nothing in msconfig or services for comodo. Would this mean that I dont have Comodo running anywhere at all? I dont understand why Security is recognising it - and even saying it is still on.

The Windows complete pc back up seems good - I understand that I would need 2 or 3 dvds to write it on wouldnt I?
I do I just need the Automatic Back up? just for files?

If comodo is not showing up in these locations, check the taskmanager, for cfp.exe and cmdagent.exe If those entries are not there, then the reason why security centre may be detecting them is probably due to a rogue registry entry

The ammount oF DVDs depends on how much you need or want to backup, I would recomend a system restore point.

I am at work at the moment, but I will try the Task Manager tonight to look for those entries. If they are there, I take it I would just select END NOW?

Yes, you could do that, but then they would appear the next time you reboot. When you get back do a search for Comodo start->search make sure it searches hidden files and folders.

Checked Task Manager and there were no traces - I double checked in start up and services ( noticed windows firewall was ticked in services - is that correct?)
I did another search - but couldnt find an option for 'hidden files and folders' in vistas search - but normal search found nothing

I even looked at the start up details in spybot search and destroy, but no traces of comodo

Ok, it may be a stray registry entry, how did you remove Comodo? maybe re instaling then uninstaling might be able to fix it.

I removed it from its own uninstaller in programmes.
I have since deleted files all over the place, and now every search comes in clean.

I have a programme at work called 'CC Cleaner' which cleans internet but has a registry cleaner - are you familiar with it and do you think I should use it to clean the registry?

On Registry Cleaning, check out this post on the forum:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/ind...mp;#entry681622

And this link recommended by a BC member (who considers it as a MUST read):

http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=61015

While those links are an interesting read, they both refer to optimization and performance gains.
There are two main possibilities,
1 the registry still has an entry telling seurity centre that comodo is installed.
2 security centre itself is somehow damaged.
I would tell ccleaner to do a simple scan, don't tell it to fix anything while there are risks, a simple scan can't do any harm as it wont clean without your permission yet. just tell it to scan, search the list for entries containng security centre or comodo, could you post back what you find.

An interesting series of posts at their forums (may work in Vista also):
http://forums.comodo.com/empty-t6693.0.html

You can also search their forums for "security center" (without the quotes) and you'll find a lot of similar problems there.

I'm grateful for all your help - but I am a bit hesitant to mess with the settings on this vista laptop.

I have left it as it is for now, and there doesnt seem to be a clash. I know Comodo is not working - it simply cannot work. So for now I am going to ignore the Windows Security Centre saying it is working.

I have copied all your advise and tips, should something happen in the future.

Ok, glad to help,

There is an option in windows security centre that you can tell it that I will monitor my own firewall from now on. It will stop the firewall messages.

Great.. that is what i will do.

Appreciate your help.

You are welcome, glad its sorted.