windows explorer want

I just installed zonealarm. And it flaged me that Windows Explorer is trying to launch to the internet. This is not Internet Explorer its Windows Explorer. If I block it with Zonealarm I have no internet access. I have run Ad Aware 5.8 and Mcafee VirusScan with latest Dat files. Does anyone know what the heck is going on with this?

 

Hello redbarnes,

ZA gives you the IP address Windows Explorer (or any program) wants to connect to. Look it up in the ARIN Whois site. You may be supprised!

As far as I can determine, both 9X WE and XP WE and XP's Gateway process report your IP address to the Whois site. I block both window explorers from doing so and can still connect to the web. The Gateway process can't be blocked without running into your problem. Perhaps someone else can offer more insight into this.

Regards - Charles

 

The only fix I found the the Gateway thing was to scrub the Hd and load an unbranded OS. There may be another way but I was tired of some other "features" they stuffed into their version.

 

Thanks for the reply. But I don't really understand what your saying. What is really strange is that I have 2 other systems running 98 and 1 running 2K that I have blocked internet accses to Windows Explorer without killing my internet connection.

 

rebarnes - sorry for the unclear talk.

Gateway gives you their own version of Windows Explorer. They have done a couple of things so information is sent out to them.

If the standard Windows Explorer wants to send traffic out and you block it - end of story (except for which ever program made it want to send stuff - that one thing may not work).

If the "Gateway Special" tries to send and you block it, you are unlikely to be able to get internet access at all.

This was one thing I did not like with the Gateway systems my wife had bought before we got married and was one reason I reformatted both computers and installed a regular version of the operating system rather than the modified one Gateway ships on and with their PCs.

This is not really to pick on Gateway either. They are not the only vendors who do this sort of thing - "customize" the operating system for their hardware. So far I haven't liked it on any system. I prefer plain vanilla Microsoft even if it has a few scattered warts and lumps.