Don't know all the answers, but I'll try:wink:.

I don't think your firewall is affecting your ability to browse other hosts. If the firewall icon isn't showing and you can d/l and u/l ok then your connection should be good. Don't know why XP's firewall won't start on reboot.

I rarely if ever can browse someone uploading files from me. Try browsing from your search results window. I have much more success browsing that way.

Not sure what you mean by being more exposed being an UP. If you mean exposed to the authorities, I'm not sure, but your isp can track what your doing reguardless.

One reason that UP's tend to have fewer files(though not necessarily) is LW picks hosts who have the extra bandwidth available to be an UP. So hosts with less files tend not to be uploading much so they have more spare bandwidth. So more likely to be an UP.

Hope this helps, though I'd pay to see someone eat their own head .

__________________
If it ain't broke, fix it till it is!

Thanks 6pac for trying to answer,windows firewall still turning itself off after every reboot, Browsing issue ,cant browse self(Using direct connect and entering own address) exposure as an ultrapeer, ie as you are not behind an ultrapeer therefore more' exposed' would still like to know.
Many thanks on browsing,I cant browse from either 'connections' window or 'Search' window or 'Download' window,will continue trying.
Many thanks,
Newbee2

__________________
''Kindness is the hardest thing to give away,it keeps coming back''

Many thanks birdy for info,removing lw folder did work and i browsed away like a demented cow, sorry (Bovine) for a couple of hours, started comp today, lo and behold,browsing doesnt work again !! Would messing with protocols by Ser.Prov. be a factor?? I am throttled at present? but feel like doing the throttling !!!!!!Is it worth deleting folder again, does it matter if you do this frequently? Thanks Newbee2

__________________
''Kindness is the hardest thing to give away,it keeps coming back''

bump,sorry

__________________
''Kindness is the hardest thing to give away,it keeps coming back''

AFAIK you can delete the prefs folder whenever you like. But if you're continually having to do that there must be another problem somewhere, plus it's a PITA:wink:

Have you tried starting from scratch & reinstalling Java then LW (both with their offline installers)?

I've got no idea why your XP firewall would be turning off & on. I couldn't find a single thing about this with Google. Are you sure that every bit of ZA is gone? Have you tried using the computer's search to see if there are any ZA files or folders still hanging around? Just that I was wondering if somehow the ZA uninstall didn't work & somehow it's still trying to turn off your XP firewall (that's a real stab in the dark & is probably way off base)

It's probably a good idea to run an AV scan too, just to see if there are any nasties around.