Ok, recently my laptop has been having trouble connecting to the internet. When I boot up and log in, normally my msn messenger will boot up too. It doesn't. So I try to activate int explorer and go online, I cant do that either. I find that if I do the whole unplug cable modem/router, then plug back in again thing, I can go back online (this is how I managed to be typing this post now).
I also have zone alarm, and sometimes when I boot up, and am having the afore metioned problems it will promt me to give my own ip address access? I give it access, but the problems still persist. So basicly my connection to the internet is severed. At least thats the way it looks to me.

I have norton antivirus, but its, well its very out of date, as I havent re-subcribed in about a year because its the same version my step dad uses (we run our coms off the same network) and so, he can re-sub, but I can't, I need cd keys I dont have etc. Anyway, I scanned for viruses and none were found, but like I said, that doesn't mean anything neccessarily because its not up to date.

So what I'm asking is, does this not being able to connect to the internet thing soudn like a virus? And also, what is a really good and up to date FREE virus software I can use to run a new check?

Oh also, I have not installed windows sp2, but my step dad has, and even though we run off the same network, it couldn't have anything to do with it right?
Please fill me with some wisdom sp :confused: :)

Nah, I don't think this is a virus, more likely a problem with ZoneAlarm... I've had similar in the past. Try removing ZoneAlarm from startup for a while and see if the problems disappear.

As for a free virus scanner, I can recommend avast! (http://www.avast.com/).

Hey thanks Tal. But me being only borderline computer literate (well, for these days anyhow) how do i remove zone alarm from startup?

(I'm using the bare bones free version.)

In Overview, Preferences, General, remove the tick from Load ZoneAlarm at startup.

Hehehe, thanks, got it.