Windoze firewall is always OFF when machine reboots
 

Every time I power my xp desktop back on, or it reboots during program updates etc, the security centre reports that the Windows firewall is OFF. I usually turn it back on and even then it sometimes turns itself off within a few minutes.

Any idea why it is doing this?

I am running Zone Alarm as well. It has been suggested that I should only run the one firewall, the Windoze one, but I am reluctant to do this while it cannot be relied upon to stay active.

As an aside, Mozilla have suggested that my issues with FF and Thunderbird are all due to my firewall behaviour. I still can't get my mind around how the firewall can cause FF to fail to tidy up when it is closed down such that it will not re-launch unless the machine has been powered off first.

Rans6...

You don't need both, just run Zone Alarm.

Ditto green granite.

The reason the windows firewall turns off is because Zonealarm turns it off as it starts.
If you really want both running, which is highly undesirable, just go into Zonealarm settings and uncheck the box that says it will turn of windows firewall.

The suggestion that you should only run one is correct, but not windows, Zonealarm is a far more effective product.
If it is the free one you are running then the limited support from them may mean you are better off sticking with Windows however.

WRT your Firefox and Thunderbird behaviour, firewalls restrict ingoing and outgoing connections from all programs.
You may have to go into program control in Zonelarm and make sure all the FF and TBird settings are on "allowed" for local and internet access.