firewall problems

[beanman2k]

firewall problems

I have used zonealarm 2.262 for sometime now and have had good luck until I started using Windows XP. Now, mind you this may not actually be a ZA problems, but just another XP mess. I have had a problems with windows starting my DSL connection for a long time. After disabling ZA most of the time the connection will come up and then I start ZA. Surfing is very slow and sometimes I can't get to a certain site without trying it numerous tiimes. I've lowered the security settings (something I really don't want to do) with occasional success.
I've stopped using ZA for the time being and am trying out other firewalls. Fiero, I didn't like at all. I'm currently using one called Outpost. Anyone have any experience with it?


Also, are there some special settings in XP I don't know about that may be part of this problem. I never had a hiccup in 98SE.

I don't use XP for very much internet activity, just for some special email and MsPublisher use. Linux (MD 9.0) causes me no grief what so ever.