In that case thanks for all your help! I just have two more queries. Sorry if I'm stretching this.

1.
FIRST - since activating Zone Alarm firewall I've received only four blocked intrusion attempts within 3 days. Most people I query about this seem to be getting 1k+ intrusion attempts per week. They say more blocked intrusions is better because it shows the firewall is working. Could my low count possibly mean ZA isn't successfully blocking these intrusions? Will I even be warned if someone gets through?

Another problem with this is that those 4 blocks are all from the same IP address. The address is 192.168.1.1:3074. Except for the 3074 PART its the same as my old router access IP. I'm now on a different router ending with digits '1.254'. Why am I being pinged from my old router address if I've now GOT a different router and LIVE on the opposite end of the country?

(there's also 2 intrusion attempts coming from Brisbane, Australia. I don't know anyone there.)

2.
The second problem is about my current IP address, which I mentioned above has changed suddenly. I'm familiar with dynamic IP but for a long time mine has had the same first two digits (within range) since the connection was established - I don't like fixed IPs so I actually made attempts to change my IP using online guides, but to no avail. Now all of a sudden I see my IP has changed to a significantly greater value without warning. I don't know if anyone else but me can see it but look at the IP address under my posts in this thread to see the difference. Why has this suddenly changed now of all times?
Depending on how much you are doing on the web and what all is running on the computer would determine the difference in attempts. It will be different for everyone.

Not sure on the IP. You might want to ask that in the Windows FORUM.