I want to thank you guys for all your help, but I think I've got it beaten (finally). The 2 dll files were the biggest problem, and after reading how to delete them and running SpyBot and Ad Aware 50 times my system is clean, I've turned off Pop-Up Blocker and not gotten a single pop-up since! My system is a lot cleaner and safer now, thanks again.

So, what do you guys think about Zone Alarm with XP?

 

S2Kguy,

Hey, well done getting the PC cleaned up! I can understand how frustrating computers are sometime. I program Windows apps for a living, and I swear I've almost knocked the edge off my desk with my forehead.

It's good that you're looking as some type of firewall software. I haven't had any experience with Zone Alarm. I do know XP comes with a simple built in firewall. If you go into the properties of the network connection, you should see a place to turn that feature on (if it's not already turned on - can't remember if it's on by default).

I personally don't like running firewalls directly on my laptop, but that's because it interferes with the server software I work with day to day. I usually hide my PCs behind some little consumer firewall/router combo. It does all the port blocking I need, and really, there's not much to hack into. Microsoft has so many damned holes in their stuff, I don't trust exposing a PC directly to the Internet. I want some other hardware between me and the outside world.

Chris.