Unless you start the Firestarter GUI yourself or have it set to start
when you computer starts - it will not be shone. The firewall is still
running - just not the front end.

Hope you did not run both together, two would just clash, You don't
really need a firewall with a router that has it own hardware firewall.

I hope someone can shed light on what loading then has done to stop the
connection?

The firewalls are gone, Wade -- that's what's
so annoying. I uninstalled both, but one of
them has clearly turned off some vital port/s.
What I need is the code or command to issue
to re-open them. Can anyone advise?

So you uninstalled the front ends to the firewall. I think ubuntu has
one built in anyway.

Im not so sure that it is your firewall causing problems.
First, System>Admin> Networking Tools

On the first tab (Devices) make the Network Device select your wireless
card. Do you have an ip address?

Everything that should be there, is
there...Firefox just can't see the outside
world. Neither can Konqueror.

My main recourse at present is to do a clean
install from CD..which could trash 18-months
of work. All I need to do is remove whatever
file/s GuardDog or Firestarter installed or
created that's blocking the ports, but I don't
know what to look for, or where. Anyone been
here, done this and found a solution?

Ok. Then in Network Tools go to Port Scan and put in 127.0.0.1 and then
put in your ip address 192.168.X.X (whatever yours is) and scan those
IPs open ports. Lets see what ports are open. If something did get
closed then some of the open ports should also be closed.

Did you install the firewalls through Synaptic? If so, find those in the
list and chose Complete Uninstall and those will remove all the files
including the config files.

To find out what's left in the iptables do : sudo iptables -L
and if you want to flush all rules: sudo iptables -F

But, before do check carefully what you want to do and what firewall you want to
keep active. Keep only one firewall or you're set for troubleS.

Learn to program yourself the iptables at the following address:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=159661