If I set up a software firewall with a cable internet connection, will the computer connect to the internet when hooked to DSL? Or will the firewall configuration have to be changed so it will connect to DSL? Thanks Smitty

A software firewall will work fine with cable broadband because it's always on. With DSL the only issue you may have is if you are required to use a PPPoE logon utility to log on to DSL service. If you are using something other than Microsoft's firewall (such as Zone Alarm) then the PPPoE utility program will have to be permissioned for access the Internet to log you on to use DSL service.

Bill, thanks for the reply. Here is the situation. I did a clean install of windows on a computer at my house. It connected to the internet via my cable. Then I installed a software firewall and it still would connect to the internet. Then I sent it home to a DSL connection and it would not work. In the past, I have sent 2 or 3 computers to this particular house and they didn't have software firewall installed and connected to the DSL with no problem. This DSL does not require PPOE. It is like my cable and has an always on connection. So, I had the person uninstall the firewall and the computer still would not connect. Luckily I had sent another NIC home with the computer and had the person install it and it went online immediately. I guess I am understanding what happened. The firewall created a path to the internet with my cable and that path would not change by itself using DSL. And a different NIC started a new path to the internet. I suppose some settings in the firewall could be changed manually to make the first NIC connect. What do you think? Thanks Smitty