[Scgeeks] Atguard

[indigo]

Win2k OS, SP3. I updated to most of SP3 around Sept 25, where certain
Atguard functions ceased to work (adblocking for one, some filters). I
knew that SP3 and Atguard could cause problems, and now I'm wondering
whether all the gremlins I've been having lately are do to the
incompability. The inbound/outbound blocks appear to still be working
(which is the most important thing for me), but the Active Rule
Assistant has not worked for months -- usually I'd be getting port
scanned to death so I rarely used it. Now I'm using knew websites that
Atguard is blocking access to because the rule assistant is failing, so
I have to disable the firewall at times.

Should I remove the app from my system? If it's corrupted and I try a
reinstall, is there a way to save all my specific settings (like blocked
and allowed connections). I've looked at the help file and can't see a
way to do it. I've heard Tiny Personal Firewall is ok, but does anyone
here use it? Does it allow javascript? (I have to have that). TIA.

P.S. Not looking to get a router right now, electrical system and
desktop capacity is already overloaded

P.P.S. While browsing Office Depot, I found an HP TouchSmart 1Q775 that
would solve all my desktop space problems forever. Also looked at a Sony
VAIO VGC-LS32E, also with a 19" wide screen LCD monitor built in, much
cheaper but about 1/2 the capacity and services available from the HP.
Anyone have bad experiences with HP PCs? I really like the HP, but at
$1449 retail I'm not prepared to spend that kind of scratch until I give
up trying to fix my current PC --- which ironically has an AMD CPU with
the same speed as the new HP! But the bus speed is 4 times faster (1066
vs 133 Mhz) and it has a 2 MB L2 cache, so I'd expect it to be
significantly faster despite the similarity in raw CPU speed.