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General discussion

Windows XP Firewall and AOL

Feb 4, 2004 3:30AM PST

Hi! I simply cannot find out how to determine if my "built-in" windows xp firewall is enabled or disabled. I have read that people have had to disable the windows xp firewall to install later versions of aol. (I am using aol 8.0 and using a dial up connection.) I have followed instructions to click on network connection then right click on Aol dial up to view properties. Not only does nothing happen when I do that, but even when I am on line the connection says DISCONNECTED. Obviously, aol software has me connecting some other way. THEY can't explain it. Dell can't explain it. I'm not paying Microsoft $345 to explain it. This whole thing started because I wanted to install free Zone Alarm and they indicated that I must uninstall (or disable?) any other firewall. So...do I or do I not have a firewall? Is it disabled or enabled? How do I determine the status? I appreciate any help.

Discussion is locked

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Re:Windows XP Firewall and AOL
Feb 4, 2004 3:39AM PST

"I simply cannot find out how to determine if my "built-in" windows xp firewall is enabled or disabled"

I pressed Start, Help and Support, typed in the following:

ICF

Then pressed enter. The items explained this.

"but even when I am on line the connection says DISCONNECTED."

There is a known situration this will occur in. It's a "Microsoft'ism and I don't remember much except it annoys people. The connection works anyway so this will be hard to get Microsoft to fix it.

I see more questions, but let's start with just these two.

Bob

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Re:Re:Windows XP Firewall and AOL
Feb 4, 2004 4:18AM PST

Thanks, Bob, I really appreciate your reply. However, I already followed all the steps under Help and Support to disable or enable the firewall. After double clicking in Network Connections...nothing else works. When I right-click on the phone connection to view properties, there is no response. When I left click Network Tasks, there is no response. Any ideas?
Babs

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Re:Re:Re:Windows XP Firewall and AOL
Feb 4, 2004 4:54AM PST

Well, here I am answering one of my own questions...the mystery unfolds...the following from Microsoft's website.

Q. I have America Online Internet service. Can I use the Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP?
A. If you have an America Online broadband Internet connection, you can turn on Internet Connection Firewall following the steps on the Use an Internet Firewall page.

If you have an AOL dial-up Internet connection, it cannot be protected by the Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP. The firewall does not interfere with the AOL connection. But you cannot configure AOL dial-up connection software in the Network Connections folder on your Windows XP computer, therefore you cannot turn on Internet Connection Firewall for such connections. For help in securing an AOL dial-up Internet connection, you should contact AOL.
Additional information about AOL is available at the AOL Web site: http://www.aol.com/
For a list of AOL Technical Support phone numbers, visit the following AOL Web site: http://www.aol.com/nethelp/findinghelponaol.html

This answers my question about why I can't access that area. It is unavailable. Now I'm wondering if Mcafee's firewall is compatible with Norton 2002.

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Re:Windows XP Firewall and AOL
Feb 4, 2004 5:07AM PST

If you right click on the My Network Places on the desktop and then right click on any connections under that and click the advanced tab, you can check or uncheck a box to enable or disable the built-in WinXP firewall...

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Re:Re:Windows XP Firewall and AOL
Feb 4, 2004 5:49AM PST

Thanks, jjordan, but it doesn't work. I just found out why...the firewall doesn't work on dial up connections.

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Re:Re:Re:Windows XP Firewall and AOL
Feb 4, 2004 2:45PM PST

The firewall works on dialup connections, just not AOL.

After you get everything working correctly, then try putting on a firewall if you must.

Or just ditch AOL. You can make direct dial connections on earthlink and most others, and you can use the ICF with XP on those.

The windows XP ICF is a one way firewall, blocking incoming, whereas Zonealarm goes both ways.

Many people have problems after installing a firewall. If you don't get everything running correctly before installing it, you will not figure out where the problems lie.