BIOS upgrade, not really necessary to install XP SP2?

Maybe, flash the mobo BIOS and be happy and run SP2.

 

ZA's freeware version doesn't "run out," and is still more versatile
than Microsoft's.

Notan

 

Whether or not the firewall asks for IE 6.0 or IEXPLORE.EXE is splitting hairs.
Yes, you're right that Zone Alarm and other firewalls that check outgoing
traffic will ask the user about IEXPLORE.EXE by its executable program name, not
its function. Yes, it sure would be nice if the firewall asked nicely whether
Internet Explorer was allowed to access the internet, rather than asking about
the executable program name.

My point was to distinguish between IE 6.0 and IE 6.1 as examples where the
firewall knows the difference between an older version and a newer version of
the same executable program, because it keeps track of the properties of the
program.

Yes indeedie, telling the firewall that IE can have access to the internet DOES
open up IE to all manner of evil varmints. This is EXACTLY the same as if one
were using the XP SP2 firewall instead. With the XP SP2 firewall in place, IE
or any other program) has free and unobstructed access to the internet. IE's
Internet Options allow the user to lock down some of the security, blocking the
use of potentially harmful usage.

Did I not make it clear that you only have to tell ZA or Norton firewall once
that a program is authorized to access the internet? Sheesh! ... Ben Myers

 

No, it requires separate install, care and feeding beyond MS's Automatic
Update.

SP2's firewall plus good virus checker plus a good adware checker is all
that's needed.

I suppose that a summation of my position is that the virus checker and
adware checker should be just ONE program ......and included in SP3.

 

I haven't run into a firewall feature that allows flexible controls over
networking apps, constantly being recompiled with new versions. My guess is
that Checkpoint or some other vendor of truly heavy duty workgroup or enterprise
firewalls may have this sort of feature. The consumer-oriented firewalls have
an option to suspend (or resume) all firewall monitoring activity.

My clients consist of home and small business users, up to 50 computers.

Most of them would pass tests such as:

InternetExplorer.exe is trying to access the Internet... allow?
WindowsUpdate.exe is trying to access the Internet... allow?

It takes a little explaining, but anyone who has valuable personal business or
personal data (or programs) on a computer is usually all ears, especially after
the first incident of varmints inside their computer. It's really not all that
difficult. Most people tend to use the same programs over and over to access
the internet: a browser, an email package, (maybe) a freestanding FTP package,
(maybe) a freestanding newsreader, and so on. And a high percentage use only IE
and Outlook/Outlook Express... Ben Myers

 

RON! STOP TALKING AND LISTEN!

SP2's firewall is not *the* way to go, when other, better firewalls
are available.

ZA has the option of checking for automatic updates, each time it
loads.

I'm not pushing ZA, per se, just trying to get you to listen to a
voice other than your own.

Notan

 

That would help nothing.

Huh, and that relates to what?

 

Some decisions are so easy...PLONK.

Ted Zieglar

 

To the clueless..not a chance. garner more computer expertise before
spouting.

"other" is the problem. Any fundamental OS feature should be included in
the OS and if it's even close to being included in the OS then USE IT. Your
mindset would take us back to Netroom and Stacker hell.

Once the neophyte ever figures out about the existence of ZA and installs
it...just NO!

You are pushing 3rd party OS support apps...they should be avoided WHEREVER
POSSIBLE.

 

Fine, Ron. You're right, everyone else is wrong.

I'm more than happy to leave on that note.

See ya!

Notan

 

OK, now that you've provided a summation of your position, would
it be too much to ask that you stop running around and spewing like
an impertinent fanboy who has the One True Answer (tm) for
everything?

Your insults and jabs, overly dismissive and overly simplistic blanket
statements, and tendency to repeat yourself are an impediment to
meaningfull discussion/debate.

 

My experience is the exact opposite..... I **NEVER** turn off AV software
(multiple versions of NAV) and have never had a problem installing
software..... I will not turn off AV for any reason..... Period....

 

OK, then what is it? And, why don't manufacturers put the name of the chip
on their invoice? It lists everything about the computer, but not the chip-
as if to say that most users don't need such esoteric info- but we do if we
want to upgrade, so it should be on the invoice.

Joe

 

Actually, it would make the firewall easier to use, identifying the program by
its well known name instead of an EXE name.

That relates to ones relative safety in using a firewall that monitors outgoing
traffic. It's a useful feature for a firewall to be able to tell apart
different versions from one another.

But I forgot. I seem to be responding to a person who espouses use of Microsoft
and only Microsoft products 24/7. Look where that approach has gotten the
industry! ... Ben Myers

 

Name brand computer manufacturers have hardly ever used Intel internal code
names for chips on their invoices. "Prescott" is an unofficial-official Intel
code name. In other words, Intel plays it both ways with its code names.

For the most part, only the CPU pinout, FSB, CPU speed, and internal cache size
appear on invoices, plus today's current market names of Pentium 4 and Celeron.

.... Ben Myers

 

About 5-8 years ahead or where it would have been without MS.

 

So which one do I have? Or, how would I find out? I know, I know, go to
Dell's web site- but I enjoy getting enlightened from you guys. <G>

 

I haven't run into a firewall feature that allows flexible controls over

ZA has a "changes frequently" setting for apps that are regularly updated

 

You have an Intel 8088.

 

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php