Public or Private network

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I use one only pc with Vista connected via wireless to broadband and have set the network to Public (which Microsoft seem to recommend). However it is for Home operation so would it be best to set it for ‘Home’ to make it easier to access various network activities. For example, I find that when I download some new programmes etc I have to ‘Allow’ every time and this gets a bit confusing. (I had trouble a while back getting full screen with WMP and the reason was the firewall settings)

Any recommendations?

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The “Public” setting is for when you are out in the Wild such as the Mall or Coffee Shop. This is to help protect you from the peeking eyes.

As for these downloads, are downloading and saving or downloading and installing?

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Thanks Dave. I thought that was the case but the MS Vista Help says …
‘If there’s only one computer on your network and you know you won’t need to share files or printers, the safest choice is “Public place.’
Maybe a lot of my problems have been due to a ‘very tight firewall’ so best I try it on ‘Private’ to see what happens. I assume this will not make it ‘open for all’ at home? Can I revert easily to Public if I decide this is OK for me … I guess that choosing is very flexible, either way?
The download problem seems to be solved in that when I am asked ‘Do I trust this site etc’ I simply click ‘yes’ (if I know it!) and can then download/save or download/install. Some of the programmes will not run easily (WMP at full screen was an example) but I found a page on the Windows Firewall that lets me permit various programmes to run correctly.

Ron

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As DaveA says, go private…..

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