Seti Cruncher wrote:

It would be nice to get the input of a SETI@Home staffer or Networks
Associates staffer on this and what they believe to be the problem is and
what the possible resolution may be.

The resolution is do not use McAfee.  I've had enough problems with them to know I'd never willingly run any program they have.

You say you wanted it for the firewall?  Why are you attempting to run a firewall on the PC you are protecting?  Go get yourself a router with a built-in firewall for well under $100 or configure an old PC to run a Linux based firewall.

Running a firewall on the same PC you are attempting to protect is a waste of time and cpu cycles.