Windows 7 and Outpost Firewall 6.7 x64 My story

I have recently formatted and installed Windows 7 RTM Ultimate without issue I just love the difference I feel with it between the old RC version smooth and quick. After I installed it and got critical programs setup I decided to check out software firewalls since I never liked using Windows Firewall, I decided to find something other than COMODO Firewall since clicking allow again and again and again AND AGAIN and with all the programs I had going it made using the computer a bit too annoying and slow. I’ve always loved COMODO Firewall for it’s leak proof tests but I needed something that was automatic and less in your face all the time. I did some researching and found Outpost Firewall the native x64 version support was a must have and it was supported for Windows 7 RC so why not give it a try?

I downloaded and installed it restarting after hoping the login/startup time would not increase by much and to my amazement I could not tell a difference if the startup time had changed +1 to Outpost! I then setup some settings and had it enabled on auto-learn for a week worked well and no need to create custom rules +1 to Outpost again!

I then tried to run a few multiplayer games such as Call of Duty 4 to see if PunkBuster needed to be manually allowed it got permitted via auto-learn and was working (another +1) well I then decided to minimize the game and return to the desktop by pressing ALT + TAB… The screen went black for a second or two… then… The old and typical Bluescreen Stop Error appeared, It actually scared me quite a bit as I looked coldly at the horrid blue and white text I just stared jaw dropping and said out loud “WHAT THE F#%K HAPPENED NOW!?!?!” I never had a Bluescreen for a long time since Windows 7 was so stable for me how on earth did this happen? Was their an issue with Call of Duty and the RTM?

A few more reboots later of me trying to recreate the problem it happened on every full screen application I used when I pressed ALT + TAB or WIN Key + TAB, It came to me Outpost had a thing were it would go to “Entertainment mode” when a full screen application was running I disabled it and tried to recreate the Bluescreen still happened… -1 to Outpost? I then exited Outpost with a little great feature of even disabling the service for Outpost so it would be completely off +1 to Outpost, attempted to recreate the issue and nothing happened it went back to the desktop fine. This seems like a major Windows 7 x64 bug.

I went to Outposts support site and entered my report of what happened since I was using the trial I was going to be a lower priority I thought no since I said major bug they would reply quite quick and what do you know 10 minutes later I get an email asking me for the version number as I had entered my LAN IP address without realizing. Message sent with corrected details and replied within 5 minutes WOW YOU GUYS ARE GOOD! they then asked me if I could recreate the problem and send them a minidump file one seemingly long Bluescreen later I sent it off. I must be getting used to getting Bluescreens now JUST LIKE WINDOWS XP before I moved to the Windows 7 Beta. I get a reply about 15 minutes later containing the workaround fix (quoted here so if you have the same issue you can fix it)

Thank you for your message.

Please, try to rename the driver specified below temporarily in order to find possible reasons of the problem.
Use the following
instruction:
1. Load Windows in Safe mode.
2. Find the following file: sandbox64.sys (usually, it can be found in the following folder:
C:\Windows\system32\drivers\). If you are
using Windows Search, make sure you ticked option to search in hidden and system folder as well.
3. Rename it to sandbox64.sys.tmp
4. Reboot your computer in Normal mode, ignore “unable to load driver” error and check, whether this problem
would re-occur with modified
configuration.

Please, tell us about the results.

–
All the best,
Svetlana Goncova
Agnitum Support

After I did that and once again attempted to recreate the issue amazingly it worked NO BLUESCREEN! HOORAY! Pleased with the ease of instructions and speed of replies from Agnitum support I confirmed the issue was fixed and got a reply that the engineers are working on a fix in a future update and thanking them after.

Thank you for your message.

Our engineers are working on the issue. As soon as it would be fixed,
we will contact you.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

We are thankful for your opinion about our support service.
Please, let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

–
All the best,
Svetlana Goncova
Agnitum Support

I am now happily using this firewall as an alternative to COMODO and works effectively it even blocked a few port scan attacks too The speed is excellent, the automatic rules created gave no issue and less hassle, it was not in your face it just runs quietly in the background more like a set and forget program, the GUI was clean and slick and it even includes a spyware scanner if you installed that component too!

So if you ever wanted a set and forget firewall that’s a good alternative to other firewalls I suggest you get Outpost Firewall Pro (theres even a special offer for a LIFETIME license including all future product updates too!) or Outpost Firewall Free!
And if you have any issues contact support and I will assure you it will be fixed quickly the staff are all quite helpful for fixing my issue and keeping me posted about whats going on.