it does take a little getting used to and letting the program learn, it will pop up and ask you do you want to let such and such connect to the internet you will likely know what is asking because you are trying to use something that needs access so in those cases say yes, if it is something that needs to access it regularly like your antivirus check mark where it says remember this so it does not ask each time. Do not give server rights some things will ask but it is not necessary once you say no to server rights it will next pop up asking for access, that you can allow. If it is something you do not recognize asking then say no and see if you can determine what it is, if you had some type of malware that is trying to phone home you would not want to allow that access. I prefer mine to pop up and ask each time with some of the rarely used stuff I like to know what is connecting. When getting zonealarm or any other free firewall or any program actually be very alert during the install period and uncheck or do not allow the addition of any toolbars or extras, Zone alarm unfortunately now does try to include a toolbar with the free version, you do not want that toolbar. and if you have problems or questions just ask. When something like generic win 32 something ask for permission say yes or you will not be able to connect to the internet, that is one to check mark always allow. Yes as grandms said with cable you have a direct connection and with no router in between you and the internet that even more dictates the use of a software firewall. The benefit of a router with built in hardware firewall is great but I use both on my windows machines, actually my linux has guarddog firewall built into it so I even have one on linux. The link I had provided the main reason I do refer that link is that there are such good instructions and pictures for someone new to firewalls.

Here's the new log. Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2 Scan saved at 2:08:10 PM, on 4/7/2010 Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600) MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180) Boot mode: Normal Running processes: C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr.exe C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched.exe C:\Program Files\Canon\IJPLM\IJPLMSVC.EXE C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe C:\WINDOWS\stsystra.exe C:\Program Files\Intel\Modem Event Monitor\IntelMEM.exe C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehmsas.exe C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\avastUI.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe C:\Program Files\YCPlus\YANKCLIP.exe C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://login.passport.net/uilogin.srf?lc=1033&id=2 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.shreve.net O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - "3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0> - (no file) O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - "5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890> - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - "DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - "E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ehTray] C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] stsystra.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelMeM] C:\Program Files\Intel\Modem Event Monitor\IntelMEM.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSScheduler] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" -start O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSPM Startup] c:\progra~1\common~1\instal~1\update~1\isuspm.exe -startup O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CanonSolutionMenu] C:\Program Files\Canon\SolutionMenu\CNSLMAIN.exe /logon O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MMTray] C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_tray.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast5] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast5\avastUI.exe /nogui O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [RegisterDropHandler] C:\PROGRA~1\ScanSoft\TEXTBR~1.0\Bin\REGIST~1.EXE O9 - Extra button: Messenger - "FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683> - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - "FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683> - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - "F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1> - (no file) O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.DLL O20 - Winlogon Notify: avgrsstarter - avgrsstx.dll (file missing) O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate) (gupdate) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe O23 - Service: Inkjet Printer/Scanner Extended Survey Program (IJPLMSVC) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Canon\IJPLM\IJPLMSVC.EXE O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe O23 - Service: Outpost Firewall Service (OutpostFirewall) - Unknown owner - E:\Program Files\Agnitum\Outpost Firewall 1.0\outpost.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Check Point Software Technologies LTD - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe -- End of file - 4810 bytes

also they will give that warning when there is a known problem with the latest version of a program that has not yet been updated or patched, that may well be the case here. They know there is an issue with the latest version but there is not yet a new patched one out yet so they still let you know that what you have currently can be a security risk. In those cases some people would choose to uninstall and wait others will just stay with what they have till the patched version is released.

Does anybody have a clue what might be causing this? Sounds like the backlight is bad, it's a little lamp that's located in the lower backside of the screen that lights up the screen. Search google for lcd backlight to learn more. There is another component that could be a problem, but the name escapes me now. Good thing you don't have dead pixel lines, that would mean a screen replacement, very expensive. Good thing you have the extended warranty.