I am installing stuff and it might get in the way.
The only time I've had an issue with OneCare and installing software is when it is a web based installer downloading to the PC and then needing access to the Internet. if the firewall blocks the activity, and then you allow it, the install still fails if the installer doesn't retry for the connectivity. If you then repeat the process, downloading the installer again, it will likely fail again as the new download to the temp folder has a new "hash" and it will be blocked again. In that case, turning off the firewall is perfectly valid. Turning off a/v or the firewall for normal installs is risky and is still recommended by some vendors basically because that's the way it used to be done. These days, turning off the protection is risky. However, if you do turn it off, be sure to enable it again quickly if you are not rebooting for the install. If you reboot, protection is loaded automatically again no matter what you did earlier. :-)
-steve
Microsoft MVP Windows Live / Windows Live OneCare & Live Mesh Forum Moderator
