Trouble With Your Firewall Software After Installing Windows XP SP2?

If you're having problems with your computer after upgrading to Windows XP SP2 and you are using a software firewall such as ZoneAlarm or BlackIce, try uninstalling your firewall software and re-installing it. That solved the problem for me. BlackIce recommends uninstalling their firewall before upgrading to SP2.

On two different machines (one with ZoneAlarm and the other with BlackIce), I had simply upgraded to SP2 and turned off the Windows Firewall. Even so, my machines would freeze up, especially when performing network operations. It seems that even with the Windows Firewall off, there's some sort of contention for the network devices that is resolved by reinstalling.

What others have said

Sashidhar Sep 14, 2004 9:33 AM

# re: Trouble With Your Firewall Software After Installing Windows XP SP2?

I agree. I installed SP2 last nite...and surprisingly windows XP Pro recognized the existence of McAfee anitvirus.
however, it did not give me any problems with zone alarm as such. Infact it did not turn itself on automatically. Maybe i just got lucky.

Haacked Sep 14, 2004 9:51 AM

# re: Trouble With Your Firewall Software After Installing Windows XP SP2?

Could be. Try ftp'ing a file somewhere. That seems to be where I'd always get a crash. Then again, it's also possible my system was overheating. ;)

webwolf Apr 15, 2005 9:06 AM

# re: Trouble With Your Firewall Software After Installing Windows XP SP2?

aye same problem here,
norton personal firewall 2003 causes internet to hang up after any amount of time.

uninstalled it and tried the windows built in firewall.
completely froze up my computer after a few 2 maybe 3 hours idly downloading files.

will try reinstalling norton personal firewall 2005
apparantly it works on SP2......