Firewall can't be started, can't connect to internet - Error 720

Have been using free version of Avast antivirus, and upgraded to Internet Security version. After install, firewall cannot be started, and I can’t connect to my ISP - I get Error 720 “The connection attempt failed because your computer and the remote computer could not agree on PPP control protocols.” My connection is a mobile broadband UM175, using dial up networking to connect. I also have Mobile Broadband connection manager, and get the same result when trying to connect using it. Have tried uninstalling with Avast uninstaller (add/remove programs) and also with uninstall utility aswclear5. After uninstalling avast internet security my internet connection works fine. It also works fine with the free version - apparently there is an issue with the firewall.

Does anyone have a possible solution?

Using Windows 2000 SP4

I guess you will want to troubleshoot this issue so that you can run the Security Suite.

were yr network connections hooked up when you installed the Suite?
If so, then you could try this -

unhook yr network
install yr Security Suite with network unplugged

  • probably will not attempt to recognize the network but it should start

if so, check yr ipconfig /all and see if everything is systems normal - as with avast! Free
then turn off computer

put yr network together from first connect point - I guess dialup - and on to final point where the network plugs into the computer and then turn on network connections prior to turning on computer and then turn on computer and see if the firewall starts and picks up yr connection

obviously you want the firewall to start and be working as normal when the network connections has yet to be plugged in. When you turn the computer off, the settings should be saved.

just a thought

Thanks for the ideas. We tried deleting the network connections, disconnecting the modem, removing and reinstalling the program but we ended up with the same result.

you only needed to unhook yr network connections not delete them.

did the program load with the firewall started when the computer was not hooked up to the network?

does it still work fine with the free version?

error 720 is common enough issue - but the solution is not always easily arrived at even by technicians normally accomplished in their everyday tasks - because the linkages in the connect can be very fickle (that is, temperamental) and sometimes the sequence in the procedure is important.

And I would say that in this case the Security Suite software should first be installed and run while the computer is unplugged from the network. However, once the firewall has recognised the network, you will probably not have any problems from then on.

Just to clarify - we’re not hooked up to a network, the only thing of that nature we use is dial up networking to connect to the internet.

But we did find the answer - after consulting with Avast tech support, they tell me the firewall is not compatible with Windows 2000. (Even though on the website it lists Win 2000 under System Requirements). So I guess we’ll have to look around for something that will run on this PC.

Thanks for your info though.

oh dialup networking is what I meant by network.

and firewall is not compatible with Win 2000, what a pity, and 2000 is such a good system

however you can still run avast! free which is just as capable antivirus, but with less features. And dialup is a much safer line than is broadband anyway. A good program that runs well with avast is WinPatrol which is a System monitor and performs equally as well as a firewall would. Some say better than a firewall. YoKenny is expert with WinPatrol.

http://www.winpatrol.com/

Also I have found Outpost 2009 Free to be a good firewall that seems to run well with avast. You can set it to learn mode when you need to make choice as to whether allow or block - and it will apply the most appropriate choice based on what is known in the security databases on the internet about the particular action or process or file that is being put to question by the firewall. Put simply it will do yr task for you if that is what you want at the time.