It's been more than a month since I renamed this Group and started my new attitude about blogging... but I'm surprised it hasn't been longer. After all, I didn't have internet connection for nearly 3 weeks...

The local computer repair guy even refused to try and fix the problem since my computer would access the internet on his connection via Verizon.

The dilemma? RoadRunner/Timewarner vs firefox and my firewall!

Solution: go into the pc via safemode and remove all files and entries associated with the firewall that had been downloaded from the RoadRunner site! (*smiles wryly*)  and tediously delete them after careful study of their properties so as not to delete any similarly named files! oh joy! and there was a file so similarly named that I did manage to not delete it...because and ... fortunately I hadn't attempted playing pc tech without a full night's rest.

There is nothing more frustrating than programs after they have been uninstalled, leave a remnant that thinks it's active and interferes with surfing!

I could access the internet for maybe 3-5 pages before getting a timed out notice on the screen. Also, if I would reboot and reset my cable modem that is the only way I could again re-access the internet.

And then there was the wondrous message box saying how this particular file wouldn't work... and when I tried to uninstall the message was that it couldn't be done because this file was in use... strange but true.

I'm not sure why it took me so long to just go in and delete from Safe Mode.

Just stubborn I guess. After all, I'm the administrator of my computer! Why wasn't it letting me do what needed to be done! (oh yes I'd gotten that message a time or two also!)

Now, I feel like a new person. Problem is resolved. I'm searching for a free friewall that doesn't cause problems with my cable connection. That may not exist but one can hope.

And I did get to talk to many fine young people from the Phillipines, Denver Co., India, and one did recognize the problem as the firewall. What they don't know is the firewall that comes with RoadRunner is the same as ZoneAlarm only packaged as eTrust. And I had to find anything ZoneAlarm and eTrust on the computer to remove it all.

RoadRunner gives you a free year with their firewall download and then want you to pay. Funny how all this happened when my year was up!