I want to Switch from MS Firewall to Zone Alarm: Advise.

I have a Dell Dimension 300 with XP 95 and i have loaded it with
SP3 candidate. I think I am on Windows 7. I get high speed DSL from
Qwest over what amounts to a telephone line, from a wall-telephone
socket. My question is concerning some Microsoft software, namely the
firewall. I am considering changing to the Zone Alarm firewall from
the one which came equipped with the Microsoft os.
First, is there any huge complaint with the Zone Alarm firewall
that i should bear in mind before a switch?
Second, I have never changed firewalls before. As i conceive of
things, I will download the Zone Alarm, and then disconnect from the
Internet by unplugging the telephone line I use for the computer
only. Then turn off the MS firewall and then turn on the Zone Alarm
firewall, and then re-connect to the Internet. I hope that way to
avoid viruses et al. If this is correct, please: Advise.
Third, is it as easy as turning off the MS firewall? Or do i
need to use a lot of key strokes to adjust things ? If so, can
someone tell me the key strokes needed beyond turning off the MS
firewall. Yes, I know very well where the security center is and can
turn off the firewall. I can do that, and is that the end, or are
there a lot of further key strokes to do? Advise, please.
Thanks for youre help, I appreciate it a lot,
Best
Robb

"robb" <robb7thurston@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4cc1fec9-071c-440e-9e72-1dd17bced65b@z17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> I have a Dell Dimension 300 with XP 95 and i have loaded it with
> SP3 candidate. I think I am on Windows 7.

well you are obviously VERY confused. There's no such thing as "XP 95" or
Windows 7. Do you REALLY know what you are doing with XP SP3 RC1 if you
don't know the correct versions of the OS you have?

>I get high speed DSL from
> Qwest over what amounts to a telephone line, from a wall-telephone
> socket. My question is concerning some Microsoft software, namely the
> firewall. I am considering changing to the Zone Alarm firewall from
> the one which came equipped with the Microsoft os.
> First, is there any huge complaint with the Zone Alarm firewall
> that i should bear in mind before a switch?
> Second, I have never changed firewalls before. As i conceive of
> things, I will download the Zone Alarm, and then disconnect from the
> Internet by unplugging the telephone line I use for the computer
> only. Then turn off the MS firewall and then turn on the Zone Alarm
> firewall, and then re-connect to the Internet. I hope that way to
> avoid viruses et al. If this is correct, please: Advise.

Firewalls do NOT protect you from viruses - that is the function of your
Anti Virus software. Firewalls protect you from un wanted intrusions by
others into your computer.
there is no need to disconnect from the internet - just download ZoneAlarm,
install it, and the Windows security suite will automatically detect that
you have another firewall and will disable the Windows firewall
automatically.

"robb" <robb7thurston@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4cc1fec9-071c-440e-9e72-1dd17bced65b@z17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> I have a Dell Dimension 300 with XP 95 and i have loaded it with
> SP3 candidate. I think I am on Windows 7. I get high speed DSL from
> Qwest over what amounts to a telephone line, from a wall-telephone
> socket. My question is concerning some Microsoft software, namely the
> firewall. I am considering changing to the Zone Alarm firewall from
> the one which came equipped with the Microsoft os.
> First, is there any huge complaint with the Zone Alarm firewall
> that i should bear in mind before a switch?
> Second, I have never changed firewalls before. As i conceive of
> things, I will download the Zone Alarm, and then disconnect from the
> Internet by unplugging the telephone line I use for the computer
> only. Then turn off the MS firewall and then turn on the Zone Alarm
> firewall, and then re-connect to the Internet. I hope that way to
> avoid viruses et al. If this is correct, please: Advise.
> Third, is it as easy as turning off the MS firewall? Or do i
> need to use a lot of key strokes to adjust things ? If so, can
> someone tell me the key strokes needed beyond turning off the MS
> firewall. Yes, I know very well where the security center is and can
> turn off the firewall. I can do that, and is that the end, or are
> there a lot of further key strokes to do? Advise, please.
> Thanks for youre help, I appreciate it a lot,
> Best
> Robb

There is no such thing as XP 95
and Windows 7 will not be released for a few more years.

If you go with a 3rd party firewall...
it's generally advised to turn off your Windows firewall.

If you are worried about running your machine without a firewall...
I'd just de-activate XP's firewall as soon as your 3rd party firewall is
installed.

"philo" <philo@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:O7Ro%2330cIHA.5164@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
>
> If you are worried about running your machine without a firewall...
> I'd just de-activate XP's firewall as soon as your 3rd party firewall is
> installed.
>

Most third-party firewalls will do that automatically....