A word to the wise ...
Strengths:Good program.... does what it says it does!
Weaknesses:Impossible to upgrade without being a technician!!... deliberately so, I suspect.
Posted Jun 14, 2006 - Back in April 2004, I wrote a very positive review for the Version 4.o of this suite. Since then, I have been quite pleased and it has worked, quite thoroughly, as advertised. However (I know you could hear that coming) I recently had an experience which, were I not already prepaid for another year, would cause me to shift my business to a different suite.
I am currently running Version 6.1.744.
Browsing around online, I discovered (No, I was never
notified by ZA) that a new version (6.5) had been released. I emailed them to ask about it. They sent a link to the new version. Three attempts to install it resulted in systems catastrophies, including the loss of my internet connection! These attempts required the use of my Restore It program to save me. I emailed ZA, explained what had happened, and asked how to go about updating the software that I had paid for without the complications. Needless to say, the auto-update feature on my version does not seem to know about the newer version I found on ZA's website!
This was the reply I received (verbatim):
Hello,
Thank you for contacting Zone Labs Technical Support.
I understand that you are having troubles installing Zone Alarm. I
apologize for the inconvenience.
I want to make sure everything is gone from your computer as far as ZA is
concerned.
01.) Restart your computer
02.) When you see the screen go black and it starts booting back up keep
tapping the "F8" key (at the top of your keyboard)
03.) This should bring up a menu. Choose Safe Mode off the menu by
using the arrow keys on the keyboard to highlight Safe Mode and press
Enter
04.) If you get a message asking to go to Safe Mode, choose Yes. If you
get a help and support window, close this.
05.) Once you are at the desktop, Click Start, My Computer
06.) Click Tools, Folder Options, View Tab
07.) Place a dot next to "Show Hidden Files and Folders"
08.) Remove the check from "Hide Protected Operating System Files
(Recommended)"
09.) Choose Yes to the warning
10.) Click OK
11.) Double click C:
Note: In the future steps if you do not see any files or folders, please click
the "Show Files" link to view them.
12.) Double Click the Program Files Folder
13.) Right Click the Zone Labs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes
14.) Close this window
15.) Click Start, My Computer
16.) Double Click the C:
17.) Double Click the Windows Folder (It may also be WinNT)
18.) Right Click the Internet Logs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes
19.) Double Click the System32 Folder
20.) Right Click the Zone Labs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes
21.) Locate and delete the following files in this folder
- vsconfig.xml
- vsxml.dll
- vsregexp.dll
- vsdata.dll
- vsdata95.vxd
- vsdatant.sys
- vsmonapi.dll
- vspubapi.dll
- vsinit.dll
- vsutil.dll
- zlcommdb.dll
- zlcomm.dll
- zllictbl.dat
22.) Clear your Temp Directory per the instructions below.
- Go to Start -> Run
- Type %temp% and click OK
- Select all of these files and delete them
23.) Clear the Prefetch folder per the instructions below.
- Go to Start -> Run
- Type Prefetch and click OK
- Select all of these files and delete them
24.) Remove the following registry entries by going to Start -> Run and
typing in regedit. Use the folders on the left side of the window to navigate
to the specified directories.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareZone Labs
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesvsmon
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesvsdatant
*Important Advisory: Deleting registry entries incorrectly may cause
serious problems to your operating system, which may necessitate the
need to reinstall it. Please make sure you are able to perform these
deletions correctly before you decide to edit the entries. If you are not
sure, you should seek help from someone who is familiar with editing the
registry.
For information about how to edit the registry in Windows, from your
desktop, click Start >> Run >> and type regedit. Click on Help >> Help
Topics. Under the Contents tab, click Change Keys and Values (this may
be found under the How to... section).
Also, you should always make a backup of the registry before editing it.
You can find this in the same section of the Help files.
25.) Close this window, then empty your recycle bin.
26.) Restart the computer.
27.) Try to install the latest version again.
If my answer did not resolve your issue, or you would like further
assistance on this issue, please reply to this email. By replying, and
leaving the subject line intact, your response will come directly to me. If
you have a separate issue you would like assistance with, please submit a
new request using the website at www.zonelabs.com/tsfor... .
Thank you for choosing Zone Labs Security!
Several more emails were exchanged. Mine expressed the view that updates should be easy if not automatic. Theirs repeated the 'company line.' If I were not prepaid, I would switch now.
A word to the wise ...
64% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?
Rated 
Zone Alarm is my new security Suite
Comment about this review
Zone Alarm Security Suite 2006
