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#21
Yeah I installed Comodo already...just need to uninstall AVG and install MS Security Essentials. I'll reply as soon as a few days of testing go by.
It does if you tell it too. Microsoft realize that the vast majority of users don't care and in fact are bothered by an alert each time a program tries to make an outbound connection. Please read: Windows Vista Firewall enhancements: rule types, profiles, domain isolation If you'd like to have the Windows firewall, which we know causes no compatibility issues, alert you under the conditions you outlined, please follow these instructions.
You can manually set outbound firewall rules using "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security" built into Windows 7 by opening Start, typing "wf.msc" and pressing Enter. In the Overview section click "Windows Firewall Properties" and you'll see this:
Attachment 70122
Change the circled setting to Block and then use the Wizard to create rules for each program you install. No other traffic will be allowed.
To simplify this while still using the built in firewall get the free Windows 7 Firewall Control : Sphinx Software it will give you a UI similar to third party firewalls while controlling the built-in software, creating the firewall rules for you that you can later tweak if you like using wf.msc. Please give this a try.
I think implementing this and Microsoft Security Essentials will clear up your issues.
Also, have you made absolutely sure you're not carrying the Alureon rootkit I wrote about earlier? Why are you using a third party memory tester? Start, type "mdsched.exe" and enter and you'll get a memory tester that works like Windows, because it is Windows, and is specializes in stressing your RAM in ways that typically cause Windows to fail. Please try that too!
This is exactly why I don't use the Windows firewall. Setting up the rules is a PITA. A firewall such as Comodo, PCTools, Zone Alarm, etc make this much simpler and much less of a hassle.
Windows firewall could definitely improve in this area; though I understand why MS has chosen this route. The average user user doesn't want to bothered and would select always allow without even checking to see what he/she was allowing.
Well I got another BSOD after installing Comodo and MS Security Essentials. Malwarebytes also didn't find anything when I had it scanned. I guess it's time for another reinstall of Windows 7. I really never had any problems in Windows XP using either AVG nor Zone Alarm.
Also attaching the latest dump if anyone can find anything else that might be wrong.
Thanks for everyone's help so far.
I hope you've not reinstalled 7 yet. It appears that you've forgotten to turn off the Windows firewall before installing Comodo. There are dozens of BugCheck 10000050 errors on their forums: BSODs: Please add your minidump files here (CIS v4.x)
Get rid of it and try Windows 7 Firewall Control : Sphinx Software. It's compatible because it's just a front end to the built in firewall. Blocks outbound and all that. See if you still get the crashes.
I just wanted to post an update. I finally made the move to 64-bit and haven't had any problems in over a week and a half. I must have had a flaky driver. I'm still having issues shutting down but may have to reinstall the nforce drivers again.
I also am back to using AVG and Zone alarm.
Good, glad to hear you have no problems. :)
Just be warned AVG and ZoneAlarm are #2 and #1, respectively, for security program related problems.