Zone Alarm is destroying my 2003 install; what's an alternative?

[StageLeft]

I was using ZA happily until recently when the SP2 for Server 2003 (running @ home) killed my comp; it would not reboot and just kept cycling over and over. I reinstalled it, got SP2 on there fine and tonight put the new version of free ZA on the machine and upon the required reboot the comp would not finish the load (though not the same spot as the first time I had this problem). I formatted, reinstalled 2003 fresh again and upon installing ZA, the same thing happened.

Now, I cannot get into safe mode to remove ZA (F8 does nothing at all during reboot), but more importantly, what's a free alternative to ZA that won't screw me like this?

Thanks!

 

[irishScott]

Comodo's great. Been using it for years.

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

 

[StageLeft]

Thanks, irish. I got comodo in here and it's nice so far. It has a "next" itemable list if I get multiple things at once, which is cool. Plus the computer is rebooting now.

 

[stash]

Now, I cannot get into safe mode to remove ZA (F8 does nothing at all during reboot), but more importantly, what's a free alternative to ZA that won't screw me like this?

The built-in Windows firewall.