View Full Version : Zone Alarm woes
rans6andrew
24th Jan 2013, 09:25
Last year the new version of Zone Alarm installed itself onto my Wid Vista machine. It insisted that I disable AVG as the new version has it's own antivirus built in and the two are incompatible with each other. So far so good.
Now, Zone Alarm is trying to do a further upgrade and during the process it requests permission to disable it's previous version. I give the permission and it downloads much stuff and start to install ..................................
About an hour later, when it has done a few percent of the task, it fails as it cannot disable the previous firewall version and the machine grinds to a complete halt until CTRL-ALT-DEL is used to restart it.
So, I am stuck with an out of date firewall and out of date anti-virus which keep flagging up. I'm not even sure if either is doing what they should be doing.
This process has happened a number of times in the last week. This combined with Adobe only half updating itself in a similar way means that the machine takes about an hour to power down when I request it switch off. "installing updates, don't power off 0% of 3 tasks complete".
Clearly it isn't getting anywhere fast, what should I do to help it along?
Rans6...
Control Panel
Programs and Features
Zone Alarm
Uninstall
Wait the time it takes, repeat the above as necessary.
Control Panel
Windows Firewall
Turn ON if not already on.
Google - Avast Free - download (refuse all the offers of toolbars, Google Chrome, etc) and install.
rans6andrew
24th Jan 2013, 10:39
ta, I have Avast on my netbook and it seems to be free of issues of this type. So far.......
Rans6..........
Load Toad
24th Jan 2013, 12:27
I find Revo Uninstaller good for getting rid of programs that go wild.
Milo Minderbinder
25th Jan 2013, 00:43
I totally agree with Keef
Couple of points about Avast though:
first, turn on scanning for PUPS in all scans
next, set the action sequence on detection on the scans to "fix/quarantine/delete" in sequence
If anyone is confused by that, PM me with your e-mail address. I can send you a settings file which will maximise the Avast security settings by turning on the scans and actions......
John James
25th Jan 2013, 01:29
I had problems with zone alarm- I run an imac and now have free
Sophos
unobtrusive
and seems to scan fine and update
zonealarm had tentacles everywhere on my xp pro
j
rans6andrew
28th Jan 2013, 09:30
Thanks, got it.
I can't find the settings for "next, set the action sequence on detection on the scans to "fix/quarantine/delete" in sequence" Milo.
Is this setting in the free version? Perhaps I need to go Pro to get it?
Rans6......
I also had 'issues' with a recent ZA free update (also an Avast user), which on reboot hung my machine after the 'Select user profile' bit. Only way to continue was to uninstall ZA (yes, Revo) in Safe Mode and it seemed then to re-activate ZA and I now have a functioning PC with ZA 11.0.000.018 which appears to be up to date!:confused:
green granite
28th Jan 2013, 11:20
Hate to tell you this BOAC but my free version is:
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall version: 11.0.000.038
Vsmon version: 11.0.000.038
Driver version: 11.0.000.026
:confused::confused: Ran an 'update' check and it was. Wossgoinon?
Update product: Finished
Product update Up to date
Has the reg still got the failed update details?
Are you an Avast man?
EDIT to add: Reg shows Version 11.0.000.018
green granite
29th Jan 2013, 09:05
What version do you get if you download it from here? (http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/anti-virus-spyware-free-download.htm) I get zfawSetupWeb_110_000_038 in my download folder
It is offering me 11.0.000.054 yet ZA 'update' assures me I have the latest version!
Mike-Bracknell
29th Jan 2013, 11:48
BOAC, honestly, remove it. I understand your concerns, but it really will benefit you in the long run to replace it with the Windows firewall.
I have several hundred customers currently under my support, and whilst I don't participate in computer holy-wars about what is or isn't best I have looked at ZoneAlarm several times over the past decade and concluded it wasn't supportable. Also I was looking for a firewall product to deploy to 100,000 PCs in 2000 and still couldn't recommend ZoneAlarm despite working with the manufacturers at the time. It's just not architected in a way that'll ensure supportability long-term.
Noted, M-B - I actually do not have any 'concerns' but merely wish to find out why the upgrade system appears borked. I likewise do not wish to engage in "computer holy-wars about what is or isn't best".
jimtherev
29th Jan 2013, 15:24
... that when a product gets successful enough for global acceptance the vendors (or their sales team, more like) insist on porking it up until it's almost unusable.
I was a fan of Peter Norton back in the dark ages... Nortons the first to go; then McAff got offered on a new machine; I took it up to my cost. ZA never tempted me - looked too complicated from the word go. As for HP and their software :ugh:
It really doesn't have to be so!
... does it????
Milo Minderbinder
29th Jan 2013, 19:11
Mike pretty much hit it on the head in his last post
I tend to deal with home users rather than the large numbers he mentions, but even there Zone Alarm is simply too much of a handful for most users to configure
Compound that by regular as clockwork (twice a year on average) rogue updates that break internet connectivity, then personally I feel its not suitable for someone reliant on self-help.
The windows firewall is simple, does not require configuration and - except in situations where the PC is directly connected to the internet - it just works