I usually disable XP firewall & use ZoneAlarm. I find that it is very efficient, easy to set individual parameters & also easy to see what is happening. XP firewall may well work, but all activity is hidden.
The system I have on my P.C. is XP Pro Ver 5.1, which I think preceeds SP2, so Windows Firewall seems to be minimal. Was using ZoneAlarm with Avast, but the recent ZA update will not work with Avast (known conflict which ZA are trying to sort). Internet acces via Broadband ADSL modem only.

SP2 is an update to Win XP which you should have installed by now. If you haven't then your system will be seriously lacking on security updates.

Try replacing your ADSL modem with a firewall/router. This will be a lot more secure, and will probably make your computer run better.

Anyone know how to setup Unreal Tournement 2004 to play against my friend using the internet, I know we can join games on the servers but we never get the same list, and if we do start to play we get stuffed by cheats (kids) who kick our butts

I thought I could connect using the LAN connection, and then type in his IP address but it just sits there

I am on a cable network, they are using a BT line

Richgit69,

They'll need to forward ports 7777 and 7787 on their router to the same ports on their local machine. Once that's done, you should be able to connect to them via the internet if you specify their IP address in the game preferences.

J.

Jonathan, thanks I'll find out how to forward port on there modem, (they dont have router) ;-)

Richgit69

If they only have a modem, the ports do not need forwarding. All they need to do is open the ports on their firewall.

Richgit69,

Alternatively, forward the ports on your router and have them connect to you.

J.

Optimist, Jonathan thanks

Looking at a few sites now ;-)

Richgit69

One more thing, if you are opening a port in a firewall, it is best to only open the port for your friends IP address, not the whole internet.

Resusitating/installing an old computer and find that Zonealarm
"free" is no longer free.You have to pay for one of six items,non
of which I have any use for,which allows you the basic programme
for one computer for one year.
Does anybody know of an alternative?
Tks
mac

ZoneAlarm is still free:
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp
Click the "Basic firewall only" button on the right of the screen.

Thanks Harrycat.
Will try later.
mac

Running, after I installed SP4 for 2K.
Interestingly it does not recognise AVG.
Also, looking at my other computer, I
see that the AV status monitoring expired
after one year.
mac

AVG is also still free, but there have been many updates & I wouldn't be surprised if old versions no longer run.
If you are running ZoneAlarm then you will probably need AVG as ZA has known conflicts with other Antivirus programs such as Avast.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/us/frt/0?prd=aff

True.
Had to uninstall old version and start
from scratch this time round.
(Refused to update the old one)
mac

anybody got any comments on sp3 for xp and sp1 for vista?

Try Windows XP SP3 Review

execline , Ta , thats the sort of thing i was looking for. No reason to do anything at the mo

I've been running XP SP3 and Vista SP1 since before Xmas.

No problems at all with XP it just carries on working although some reports say that SP3 makes it faster.

SP1 improved the speed and stability of Vista significantly. Since I installed it, it seems like Microsoft have been tweaking Vista almost continually. The OS has become far more stable over the last 3 months.

Optimist , seem to be getting different information - saw flash somewhere last week that sp1 for vista had failed in b testing and microsoft were going for windows 7 instead???