BleepingComputer.com: Firewall Problems In Vista

Im struggling with putting a firewall onto my Vista laptop.

I found Zone Alarm free v7 marked as 'Vista' on Download.com but after downloading it, it said it was not compatible tith my system.

I tried Comodo firewall and that downloaded ok and installed ok, but I lost the WLAN connection - being new to this firewall i havent got a clue how to mess with it.

In the end i had to uninstall both and am left with teh Windows Vista firewall until help arrives!

Any help anyone please!!

PCTools has a vista compatible firewall, as does Kerio.

Hi!

Sorry for your troubles. This usually means you either have a version of ZoneAlarm that is for XP, or you're having issues installing it. If it's meant for Vista, Vista may not know it, and assumes it isn't compatible. You more than likely have an option after/during install when the compatiblity warning comes up, to ignore it, or install anyways. Or, something similar.

Try deleting it completely off your system if any of it got installed, and try downloading it from here -
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,...scription.html#

That's a link directly to the Vista ONLY download. It should work. Good luck and hope that helped!

Edite: And just to add, I downloaded/installed the Kerio firewall and used it for maybe a couple weeks. Horrible in my opinion. Not too user-friendly, and just wasn't that satisfied with it. I don't recommend it - haven't heard of PCTools though.

I didn't like the Kerio either, but the PCTools was OK for me (made by the same people who make Spyware Doctor ( http://www.pctools.com/firewall/ )

Also, I forgot this tool: http://www.sphinx-soft.com/Vista/index.html It's a firewall control utility for the Vista firewall

I've used the ZoneAlarm firewall and it just doesn't like me. I've tried the Comodo firewall and it's just not usable enough for me.

Thanks for your ideas.

What is the Vista Firewall like? Do you think I could get away with this? The laptop is used daily - is the firewall strong enough or do you think i should try to get Zone Alarm working?

Everyone has a different opinion about firewalls - mine is that I like to exercise control over what's going out and what's coming in. So far none of the Vista firewalls have allowed me to do this in the detail that I'd like to (I used the Sygate Personal Firewall in XP).

Because of that, I use the Vista firewall inconjunction with an application called WallWatcher - which monitors my network and lets me know of the attempts at accessing my network. Then I usually block this traffic through the router, occasionally venturing into the Vista Firewall settings to create a rule as needed.

I've tried all of them. I have Free ZoneAlarm working on both Ultimate and Business. If you do choose to install ZA, uncheck the box that offers "ZoneAlarm Spy Blocker toolbar"!
It is the Ask.com websearch toolbar.

Thanks for your advise. Im a bit uncertain whether to try Zone alarm 7.1 if it will install if not, I may try PC tools or even stick with Windows own Vista firewall (if you think that is secure enough - I have it blocking everything at the moment) I must admit, the computer starts quicker because it doesnt have to load zone alarm etc but i dont know if it is safe enough - im used to not having the xp firewall on.

I upgraded from Vista Home Basic to Home Premium while I had ZoneAlarm installed. No problem.

Then, I decided to upgrade to Ultimate and the install went fine but I got the BSOD for ZoneAlarm. I uninstalled it in Safe Mode and now it's fine.

So it took the first upgrade but faulted on the second. Strange.

I believe I will try the PCTools as I already have Zonealarm on a couple of others in the house.

DR

Thanks for all your help! I downloaded from the link given from pc world for the Vista Zone Alarm v7.1 and there was no problems.

I must say, I did have the Comodo firewall on (which I have read good stories about) but beware if you want to uninstall it!

Thanks all again