Microsoft Vista Question

[proudofthesouth]

I bought a new laptop computer (Compaq) yesterday. Finally got tired of my Dell crashing and living in Dell Hell.

Anyway, my new system has Vista as the operating system and it comes with a firewall.

My question is do I still need to go out and buy a better firewall (like Panda)?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[raybbr]

I was looking at this one.

[Echo Talon]

its not $700... but it has XP and A FREE Vista Upgrade deal...

[Echo Talon]

also, what is good about the Asus is it has (1X1024MB Ram configuration) so If you want to upgrade your memory all you ned to do is buy one more 1024 stick to put in it... ;)

[Echo Talon]

More than you want to spend... But It has it all...

[pctech]

Thank you. I've been looking for something like this. I want to get rid of these software firewalls and use a hardware firewall.

Thanks for the advise.

[krb]

You really should have both a software and hardware firewall. Hardware firewall seems more secure in concept, but only a software firewall can block based on application and user in addition to port and machine.

[Echo Talon]

SMC Barricade SMC7004VBR 10/100Mbps Cable/DSL Broadband Router 1 x 10/100Mbps WAN Ports 4 x 10/100Mbps LAN Ports - Retail $39.99 (3 Business Day Shipping $4.99)

I'd just get the D-Link DI-624...

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Dell Hell ain't quite as hot as Hewlett Packard Purgatory.

I use a free utility for Dell laptops called "I8kfan". It is designed to allow ultimate control of the Dell cooling fan(s). It keeps my Dell laptop running cool all the time.

[Echo Talon]

yes, the software firewall basically blocks programs (from) accessing the internet(outbound traffic, mostly ***ex:trojans, dialers, worms etc....) ;)

Or any other "program" that you just don't want "phoning home" , for whatever reason... ***starts whistling***

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I've got it running now and its pretty neat.

How much cooler does your unit run? I've been thinking of trying one when I use my laptop to do CPU intensive video compiling and conversions that can run for many hours.

It might be worth the price if it will knock of ten degrees.

[Echo Talon]

actually the one you were looking at isn't bad... I'd contact Newegg and see if it comes with a FREE upgrade offer for Vista(I know that you don't want Vista right now, but you could always use it later... FREE is FREE ;) ...

I would upgrade the memory to 1GB ASAP even if you choose to stay with XP...

[Porterville]

I'm not an expert either; I'm just going off of experience.

[proudofthesouth]

I've had it running for hours and the computer is BARELY warm. And thats with the fan on low. It also has a high setting.

This is a GREAT tool!

BTW, Staples originally sells them for around 40 bucks but I got it yesterday for 16.

[Echo Talon]

I you really don't want Vista.. but you really would be better off with this one than the other one...

[Echo Talon]

www.staples.com

[raybbr]

You are a show off! :^)

Thanks for the info. I'll take a close look at that one.

[Hot Tabasco]

I just bought a new generic computer this past week and as soon as I brought it home, I loaded a DVD burning software program that came with my Mad Dog DVD burner and it was called "Roxio".

No sooner did I load it and the computer went into restart, it would not properly reboot.

I then called the shop where I purchased the computer and he talked me thru a "safe mode" boot and went into the system configuration utility where I had to utilize a Selective Startup utility in order to start and run my computer. He said if that didn't work then I would have to run the system restore disk that was provided with my computer

I then removed the ROXIO crap but still can't reboot normally.

I called the guy up again and told him the problem and he said he couldn't help me at that time because he had "x" number of computers to work on. That really pissed me off!

I don't know what to do at this point other than take the computer back tomorrow morning and throw it thru their window. Yes, that is extreme but I am so frustrated at this point......

I guess after I cool down I will take the computer back to them tomorrow and ask them to fix it for me.

These guys that make their living off this kind of crap kinda forget that the majority of us users don't have the slightest idea of what needs to be done. All we know is that when we turn on our computer everything is supposed to work..........

Bottom line is, my computer is running fine under this "Selective Startup" utility but it will not do a normal reboot........

[Tribune7]

Did you get extra RAM? Bad RAM can cause reboots.

[Poser]

"So if I buy a router do I still need a firewall? Thx."

You should not need one unless you are running unsecured wireless where people can steal your connection.

[Echo Talon]

Bottom line is, my computer is running fine under this "Selective Startup" utility but it will not do a normal reboot........

See if you have something similar to this

Start-->Run-->(then typle in "msconfig" without quotes, go to the startup tab and remove all the roxio references... )