View Full Version : zone alarm problems
Hi Has anyone on here had any problems with there zone alarm firewall recently, I am struggling to use the p.c. and after doing a bit of digging round zone alarm seems to be the culprit, it keeps saying its trying to initialize but doesnt manage too . So I have tried to uninstall it but it just ignores the instruction, can I uninstall it from the program files ? and is that safe. So Far I have had to system restore back to saturday with no luck and the system sounds like its continously writing to the hard drive, any ideas ?
I don't use it anymore... its got more and more rubbish over the years.
I haven't used ZA for few months (there's no version for Vista as yet), but IIRC, it writes log files and keeps a database in a director called "Temporary Internet Files" (or something similar).
Go to Task Manager and make sure that there's no ZA processes running then delete all the log files and the database from the "Temporary Internet Files" directory; I have a feeling that your problem might be a corrupted database file.
Failing that, download a new installation file from their website, do the above with regard to the "Temporary Internet Files" directory and then install the freshly downloaded software.
Hope this works for you.
Thanks guys, just had one final attempt at deleting zone alarm and its worked, me p.c is flying along now, next question I suppose is do I risk reinstalling it or choose another firewall, Im already running windows defender, norton security 2005, ad aware se, ccleaner and eumig reg cleaner, any thoughts ?
Blimey stewie what sort of supercomputer do you have if its "flying along" running Norton?! :eek: :lol:
Well flying along might be a bit over the top ;) but zone alarm must have really slowed this pc down some, now just got to work out if its worth reinstalling zone alarm, been using it for years without a problem.:confused:
Well flying along might be a bit over the top ;) but zone alarm must have really slowed this pc down some, now just got to work out if its worth reinstalling zone alarm, been using it for years without a problem.:confused:
I wouldn't bother Stewie... I've recently got rid of ZA from my parents PC after they got broadband - it'd been fine for a couple of years but suddenly their machine went down the toilet after I got them on bb.
I wouldn't bother Stewie... I've recently got rid of ZA from my parents PC after they got broadband - it'd been fine for a couple of years but suddenly their machine went down the toilet after I got them on bb.
I had just reinstalled it when your post came through, think I will give one more go and see what happens, trouble is I dont know a good alternative
Pedro68
14-08-07, 03:42 PM
Doesn't Norton include a firewall? So does Windows, and all I know is that you shouldn't be running any more than ONE firewall at a time. Might just be worth checking that all other firewalls (Norton? Windows?) are disabled before you start up ZA again.
I've been running ZA for a few years now with no problems.
I also bit the bullet and paid for AVG (anti-virus).
Other than that I've also run (at some point or other) AdAware SE, Spybot S&D, and Ewido.
If I could actually be ar5ed a better option might be to actually bother to configure the hardware firewall that comes included in the Belkin wireless modem/router that I have, but I took the "lazy" option of just installing ZA ;-)
Pete
... it'd been fine for a couple of years but suddenly their machine went down the toilet after I got them on bb.
Ever thought that ZA was blocking something that didn't work on dial-up ;)
Its always worth checking things like logs before just blaming the app, could be a simple case of something is trying to do something that your FW wont allow, or should be allowing but has somehow got its knickers in a twist
kwak zzr
14-08-07, 07:44 PM
no prob's with ZA here, infact never had a problem with it.
Ever thought that ZA was blocking something that didn't work on dial-up ;)
Its always worth checking things like logs before just blaming the app, could be a simple case of something is trying to do something that your FW wont allow, or should be allowing but has somehow got its knickers in a twist
Yes thanks, I have checked the logs. I spend a good proportion of my time securing NHS N3 connected networks, so I'm well aware of security implications, since it's my job.
I suspect it's probably just that ZA is crap.
well I uninstalled ZA again cos it started to slow down my browsing etc. but have just installed Ashampoo due to it getting a good rating from web user magazine seems ok so far, so thanks to everyone for the advice
RhythmJunkie
15-08-07, 06:00 AM
I read eons ago that Norton does not like other peoples firewalls and will cause problems if you run both at the same time!
Norton software is notorious for problem causing and many people won't touch it.
I have been running ZA for about 6 years with no problems!
Zone Alarm is one of my pet hates.
Only ever seems to cause hassel and I'm really not sure what benefit it provides.
I don't run anything on my PC. No firewall, No AV zip. I'm quite happy to sit behind a cheap broadband router. It's not for everyone and I know it has its dangers but I rarely have a problem.
(I wouldn't ever run a business network like that though).
I read eons ago that Norton does not like other peoples firewalls and will cause problems if you run both at the same time!
Norton software is notorious for problem causing and many people won't touch it.
I have been running ZA for about 6 years with no problems!
Depends what you're talking about really. Norton software no longer exists, long since absorbed into the empire that is Symantec.
I've personally used Symantec AV Corporate for six or seven years on healthcare networks without any problems (except for a few issues with a poorly considered release around about version 4.0). Properly configured, it's as good as anything else out there at Anti-Virus.
In firewall terms, I don't run any software firewall at all or anything more clever than AVG Anti-Virus at home. I prefer to allow my router's firewall to do the job for me, which it does admirably. Software firewalls are just another piece of real-time resource eating code to slow things down. I'd rather be quick and vulnerable than slow and safe. Isn't that why we ride bikes?
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