AvanQuest ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2006

Reviewed by: marindavid

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Good program.... does what it says it does!

Weaknesses: Impossible to upgrade without being a technician!!... deliberately so, I suspect.

Overall Evaluation: 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 nevernotified 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. Iapologize for the inconvenience.I want to make sure everything is gone from your computer as far as ZA isconcerned.01.) Restart your computer02.) When you see the screen go black and it starts booting back up keeptapping the "F8" key (at the top of your keyboard)03.) This should bring up a menu. Choose Safe Mode off the menu byusing the arrow keys on the keyboard to highlight Safe Mode and pressEnter04.) If you get a message asking to go to Safe Mode, choose Yes. If youget a help and support window, close this.05.) Once you are at the desktop, Click Start, My Computer06.) Click Tools, Folder Options, View Tab07.) 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 warning10.) Click OK11.) Double click C:Note: In the future steps if you do not see any files or folders, please clickthe "Show Files" link to view them.12.) Double Click the Program Files Folder13.) Right Click the Zone Labs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes14.) Close this window15.) Click Start, My Computer16.) 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 Yes19.) Double Click the System32 Folder20.) Right Click the Zone Labs Folder, click Delete, and choose Yes21.) 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.dat22.) Clear your Temp Directory per the instructions below.- Go to Start -> Run- Type %temp% and click OK- Select all of these files and delete them23.) Clear the Prefetch folder per the instructions below.- Go to Start -> Run- Type Prefetch and click OK- Select all of these files and delete them24.) Remove the following registry entries by going to Start -> Run andtyping in regedit. Use the folders on the left side of the window to navigateto the specified directories.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareZone LabsHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesvsmonHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesvsdatant*Important Advisory: Deleting registry entries incorrectly may causeserious problems to your operating system, which may necessitate theneed to reinstall it. Please make sure you are able to perform thesedeletions correctly before you decide to edit the entries. If you are notsure, you should seek help from someone who is familiar with editing theregistry.For information about how to edit the registry in Windows, from yourdesktop, click Start >> Run >> and type regedit. Click on Help >> HelpTopics. Under the Contents tab, click Change Keys and Values (this maybe 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 furtherassistance on this issue, please reply to this email. By replying, andleaving the subject line intact, your response will come directly to me. Ifyou have a separate issue you would like assistance with, please submit anew request using the website at http://www.zonelabs.com/tsform .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 ...