Windows xp firewall

[True blue]

I have just updated my norton antivirus 2003 to norton antivirus 2006. Whilst installing it, it recommended that i turn off windows firewall, should i leave it turned off now that its installed or turn it back on ?

[fo3nix]

To be honest you should take off Norton!

If your norton package has a firewall, the keep windows' off. if not, then turn the windows firewall on again.

AVG does a better job and is free:
http://free.grisoft.com/

[vehelpfulguy]

Note in fo3nix update that AVG is an anti-virus not a firewall.

For a free firewall go for Zone Alarm.

[armyboy]

Turn your XP firewall back on straight away it is more important than Norton . You would be better to forget you Norton it causes too many problems , As suggested in a previous answer you would be far safer and get better protection for free . By downloading AVG Free edition from www,grisoft .com

[stevie21]

Seems to be a lot of confusion in these answers. Any firewall whatsoever that you can download or install will be better than Windows' own effort.
However the software that you're asking about is Norton *Antivirus*. I've never had any real problems with Norton so I'd consider leaving that installed but also installing a new firewall in place of Windows'. Norton also do a firewall as part of Norton Internet Security but I've never used it.
I'm not much of a fan of Zonealarm either! haha.
Have a dig around online and find a better free firewall. Use that and turn Windows' Firewall off.

[fo3nix]

I mentioned that if the questioner's norton package has a firewall or not, because many people seem to call the norton internet security package (complete with firewall) simply norton anti-virus.

[cyclone]

What is wrong with Norton?
I had AVG and my pc filled up with viruses, Windows firewall seems next to useless.
I used Norton Internet Security for a few years and it just seemed to get better (easier to use) and always secure.
At the moment I have McAfee but once the year is up then it's straight back to Norton for me.
ANY free software seems to come with a few unwanted extras.

[peanut]

cyclone, how updated is your norton? I used to like it too but now that i have 2006 in my other computer, i think it sucks rocks. It takes forever to load and it's the biggest recource hog on the face of this planet.

[fo3nix]

cyclone: norton is generally not recommended (at least round here anyway), because as peanut says, it eats your RAM for breakfast. this simple fact makes it annoying. I and many others here have used AVG free for a year or so at least, and I've never had any problems at all. every bit as good as norton at detecting viruses, and doesn't eat your memory.

[cyclone]

First off sorry True blue for hi-jacking the thread!!
peanut and fo3nix thanks for the replies.
@ peanut I only had 2006 for a short while, I got duped by a dodgy eBay seller.... That left me with nothing for a few hours, my pc was a bit faster but runs about the same now with McAfee, I just found Norton much more user friendly, maybe I'll try AVG again.
But like I said, there doesn't seem to be much "free" software out there...

[True blue]

Thanks for all replies. I wil leave windows firewall on as i dont think the norton has a firewall . finally i think whether you have norton , AVG or any other its all a matter of opinion really. Thanks.

[fo3nix]

they both do a decent job of stopping your computer from getting infested with viruses, but norton is well-known for slowing your computer down and often interfering with other programs causing small problems.