If you strike me down... you know what happens...

This is not an important post.

But if I posted it elsewhere I think it might be ignored. Or worse, it might be buried under self-inflated egotism, corporate indifference, or just plain stupidity.

I just tried to fire-up PKR and it started fighting with my software firewall.

Now, I have met many software incompatibilities in my time, but when something starts f**king with my system's security, I start taking notice.

I basically ended-up in a situation where both PKR-Updater and my Software Firewall were both 'not responding'.

This has never (ever) happened with even the (flakiest) application (or even a virus) that I have installed.

I tried re-booting (how hasn't) and exactly the same thing happened again.

I have spent 8 years supporting corporate IT systems, from desktop applications and programming, to server, to network and internet security.

I like to have my own music playing when I play PKR, yet I have noticed it's difficult to switch applications (not impossible) and change the music during games.

However, the PKR application makes this difficult, like it's trying to 'grab' hold of my CPU.

Now it is fucking with my firewall.

You need to take a 'Timmy Mallett' to the heads of whichever munchkins are programming your software, you you will not see me for dust.

Plus, I'll be making money on PokerStars instead.

Yours truely,

No Bullshit.

There must be something else going on mate. I have PKR installed on a regular Desktop and a prehistoric Laptop. It took a while but had no issues. Now I'm playing poker, listen to my music and have 6 IE screens open without a problem.

Being an IT expert you probably know all of this but anyway, here's my suggestion:
- clean up your PC (remove all cookies, history, internet forms etc)
- run SpyBot Search & Destroy
- run Ad-Aware
- install SpyWare Guard
- install SpyWare Blaster (these 4 applications are each checking for different types of Spyware)
- do a full virus system scan
- close all unnecessary programs running in the background (MSN, Skype, etc)
- open 1 IE window from where you install PKR
- be patient and do nothing else on your PC while installing the software

If this doesn't work there must be something wrong with your Firewall settings or maybe you're running anti-virus software that's 'download unfriendly' like NOD32 (causes some conflicts when downloading casino software, thinks it's a virus).
Obviously I assume that your hardware matches the min. specs. (see PKR website)

If it grabs your CPU while running PKR there must be something else going on. On my desktop it grabs 1-5% of my CPU, no more. Try running it on a lower priority and see whether it makes a difference (it should!!!).

My laptop has the biggest problem running PKR because of the very basic hardware like the videocard. Is yours big enough?
I also stop Windows and AVG anti-virus software looking for updates, preparing updates for installation and doing an installation while playing PKR on the laptop. Again because of the limited capacity of the hardware (memory card).

Good luck mate!

Perfect solution for u......

GET A MAC....

Why do people spend pointless hours of software conflicts, hardware conflicts, virus issues, crashing, crunching, error messages

Seriously though bin your big screened calculator and get a Mac its the only way to go.....