After being nagged for a few weeks by my Comodo Firewall Security software, I finally decided to update the software for my Windows Vista x64 machine. Oops. Looks like there’s a bug with the Updater… a bug that Comodo REALLY should have fixed, in my opinion. After installing Comodo 3.8.65951.477, my operating system would not boot up any .exe file for x32 programs. Which meant that my browsers would not work, my instant messengers, my email program, etc. Nothing would load. I had to uninstall the firewall to get anything to work, to get online and find out what was causing the problem.
It is not wise to be without a firewall. I am helping a friend right now who has been afflicted with a very nasty virus because he was using the lame Windows Firewall in Vista. I am terrified of getting a virus!
After a little searching around, I found out that Comodo 3.8.65951.477 has a bug with Vista x64 users who have Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware installed. The advice in the forums was to uninstall Ad-Aware and reinstall Comodo. I did, and thank GOD it worked! I’m back in business!
It is very unfortunate that such bugs continue without a fix, or, at the very least, without notification. My heart almost stopped when my computer programs wouldn’t load. I know it’s hard, finding someway to inform hundreds of thousands (or millions) of users of an bug issue. Before breaking out the custom rubber stamps, however, it would be nice if the “beta” stage lasted a bit longer before releasing an update. Or, at least, put up a notice on the main page or something. It would sure save plenty of folks a day’s worth of agony! 
March 20, 2009
computers, firewalls, security news