PROPER Process for Switching-out Vista FW

As I have read that Vista Home Basic FW (which is what I have on this PC) is not much (if any) better than the XP FW - which may well be "adequate", but I tend to be a bit fReAkIsH re: ***~9sECURITY1***~ - and would like to do better (be more secure) than the collective genius in Seattle, WA (MS) would have me be.

I have switched-out from the XP FW to Online Armor Free on the other PC, and am happy with it (we're, "gettin'-along"... so far anyway), and am hoping to do the same with my Vista Home Basic OS.

I know there is a "right" way to do this, and I "think" I know how, but I would like to be as sure as I can, and am requesting basic instructions/directions to do so.

I've already downloaded Online Armor, and believing that next I should:

1. Disconnect from the internet (is a "physical" disconnect an absolute "must"?).

2. Disable my Vista FW (2a. run ccleaner or some such drive cleaner ... and/or use Windows Tools [?], and then Defrag?).

3. Install O.A. FW (with no other programs open/running).

4. Reconnect to internet.

5. "Celebrate" with a Coca-Cola!!!???

Thx in advance,
g ...

 

Sure, would be happy to, but too late for me to edit now, though if Admin gets this, and will do that, or somehow allow me to do that (they can do that - they can do anything!) - that'd be great!

 

PROPERLY Switching-out Vista Firewall?

Sure, would be happy to, but too late for me to edit now, though if Admin gets this, and will do that, or somehow allow me to do that (they can do that - they can do anything!) - that'd be great!

 

Thanks Mr. Trent - and you were/are correct - their guide differed from my plan of action.

As usual, I have a question, and it's actually a rather serious concern that has now occurred to me since my download of the program.

This (O.A. 3.0 Free) Firewall will need somewhat "constant (manual) attention", in checking for updates - correct?

As that notion is beginning to sink into my rather t-h-i-c-k cranium, I am now realizing that it is probably not a good "fit" for my situation, where I am sharing two separate PC's (about three hours, and 150 miles, apart), each with a different person, and neither of which (neither of whom?) are wishing to (neither will) do anything "manually" ...

In other words, I spend a few/several days in one location (at one PC), and then will leave to spend a few days at the other location/ PC.

My concern is that I will leave one PC, and then an hour/day (or whatever) later, an ("Critical" type of an) update becomes available, and I won't be there to know about it/download it/update the program - and the other person is left vulnerable (or is outright exploited/attacked) for the remainder of the time (days to a week) that I am away.

Does this make sense? Have I expressed/articulated this concern well enough?

Thanks again as always - and in advance,
Glenn ...

 

I erred again. It was the (paid) O.A. "AV+" program I had read about (I suppose the "trial" vs. the paid program). There had apparently been an issue where some of the paying members had been having to manually update.

I apologize - and thanks again.