Hello,
Could someone please advise if I should or should not manually disable Windows Firewall. I am using Avast Internet Security Suite v7, [30 day trial] and my OS is XP SP3. [I used to use AVG that automatically disabled the Windows Firewall.] Whilst waiting for a reply to my email from Avast, I phoned [Australia], and I was advised to manually disable it myself. I then received my email stating that I should leave Windows firewall on. Pardon my confusion. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.
The avast firewall was designed to be compatible with the windows firewall, but I don’t know if that really the same with the XP firewall as that is pretty ancient.
Disable the XP FW.
Why?
I have never had to disable my XP firewall on my XP system.
Kenny, we’re talking about AIS here. 
Sure you don’t have to disable it with the free version. 
I would recommend leaving the Windows Firewall on, especially if you’re going to have the Avast one set on auto-decide. I have seen the AIS Firewall decide to allow all connections, incoming and outgoing, for things that need no ability to receive incoming at all. If the Windows firewall is left on, it will alert you to incoming connection attempts even if the rule for the connecting application in AIS is to allow everything. You then can allow it through the Windows Firewall creating an exception in it’s rules. I see it as a compliment to the AIS firewall which unless set to ask on every connection and thus being a total annoyance, is rather weak.
Hello, and thanks very much for your replies.
@Asyn, I was so tempted to disable WFW as I would prefer to have just one to contend with.
@Dch48, many thanks to you. OK, what you have written makes sense. I will leave WFW enabled and have the two firewalls on. I was just used to my previous full AV suite disabling WFW.
PS. To the moderators, thanks for this forum. [my first time to a forum, no I am not young, but I am not up with all the acronyms in the firewalls].
Cheers to all.
Look this: https://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=1172&ratingconfirm=1#idt_24
;D 8)
Look this: https://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=1172&ratingconfirm=1#idt_24 ;D 8)Look at the date of the topic you replied too ;)