I just recently built a new comp with vista 32-bit (please hold the "you're an idiot" comments for another thread haha, I will be dual booting soon with XP). Since start-up my internet has worked approximately 50% of the time, I know it has to do with Vista/computer and not the connection. Occasionally when it will not work Vista will "diagnose and repair" the problem by resetting the network adapter and most of the time it will work. Tonight it wouldn't work so I fiddled with some settings and finally turned off the Vista firewall and now it is working again. Is this common? I am brand new to Vista here. What are my options here? Is there any free firewall service out on the net? I have been using avast free anti-virus home edition for over a year now and have been very pleased after switching from Norton. Suggestions would be appreciated. Thank-you

Vista firewall alone should not prevent you from accessing the internet. It most likely is a firewall software application installed on the pc. I would uninstall any and all 3rd party security apps/ firewall programs. And see if that fixes the problem of getting online issue. If so then you may want to try AVG Internet Security. I have been please with the protection and performance of that software. If unistalling the installed software does not fix your connection issue then you most likely have a hardware issue, either the adapter or modem. Good Luck