Advised to disable, Firewall should I?

Mrs_pbradley936

Hello,

I have AOL Broadband and keep being thrown off the internet. It is the AOL software not the router, I can easily connect if I use internet explorer. I have been on to the AOL help desk and they suggested that I disable my Norton Firewall. They said I already have a firewall via the router (Thompson Speedtouch) and I can have McAffee free of charge from AOL if I want it.

Does this make sense to any of you who know about these things? If so should I disable the Norton firewall or just use internet explorer and not use the AOL software? It would not be a hardship because I can go into AOL for my emails and address book. I am under contract with AOL until July 2007.

Many thanks

albertross_2

Just don't use the aol software, and leave the firewall enabled.

Are you using wireless? Is the router wireless?

Mrs_pbradley936

albertross wrote:

Just don't use the aol software, and leave the firewall enabled.

Are you using wireless? Is the router wireless?

I can be wireless or plug in the Ethernet cable.

gaming_guy

have you let the aol software have access to the net in the norton firewall?

Mrs_pbradley936

gaming_guy wrote:

have you let the aol software have access to the net in the norton firewall?

I have no idea. The Norton Internet Security came free with new Laptop and I just inserted the AOL disc and went through all the steps.

albertross_2

http://symantec.atgnow.com/consumer/searchResults.do?directPost=1&pcode=all&mini_version=all&returnNav=consumer.html&searchText=aol

http://info.aol.co.uk/help/broadband/disconnects.html

Have you encrypted your wireless connection?

Mrs_pbradley936

albertross wrote:

http://symantec.atgnow.com/consumer/searchResults.do?directPost=1&pcode=all&mini_version=all&returnNav=consumer.html&searchText=aol

http://info.aol.co.uk/help/broadband/disconnects.html

Have you encrypted your wireless connection?

Yes it is encrypted with something fancy you mentioned on another thread the other day

albertross_2

good, just making sure no-one is playing games with your router,,

one thing you could try is to reduce the mtu to 1400 on the router, it may make no difference, but try it.. 192.168.0.1 then wansetup, change, and ok it.

does the aol software work, but disconnect randomly, or never work?

Mrs_pbradley936

It disconnects randomly and is worse in the evening (perhaps because more people use it?)

gaming_guy

you could try firefox and see if that helps

bigup

I had same problem, so i just stopped using the aol browser and use iternet explorer instead.