qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX
| ZA Pro 5.5.094.000 Build Giving Me Fits
For the second time in 3 days, I upgraded my ZAP to the latest build 5.5.094.000. The first time I rebooted after an Upgrade (not Clean) Install the system kept crashing when trying to load Windows. After the 5th consecutive crash, I did a System Restore to the previous days System Checkpoint and everything was fine. Sort of.
I did the upgrade because the previous build of ZAP kept blocking my browser, IE6 / XP Pro SP2, with all updates. I'd get a DNS error, kill ZAP, and immediately get connected. I'd hoped the new build would solve that problem. I tried again today, and finally got the system working. I did an Upgrade Install again. It did, and my browsing seems faster BUT, that's the only advantage.
I'm running Style XP, and using a Custom Boot Screen, and the new build of ZAP is conflicting with the Style XP bootscreen and causing Windows to crash. The system would start to load the Bootscreen and crash. Going back to the standard XP Bootscreen solved THAT problem. Now the next problem.
Once the system boots fully into Windows, vsmon.exe, the True Vector Internet Monitor, becomes a system hog and goes to 99% of system resources for about 3-5 minutes before it finally settles down, and drops off to normal. Needless to say I'm not happy about all this. IMO ZAP is getting worse, not better. This system used to be incredibly fast booting, now it's turned into a turtle.
I remember lots fewer problems with ZAP 3.0 and 4.0. ZAP 5.0 seems to be a POS, and has been at least for me. IF ZAP doesn't fix their problem I'mn getting a new Firewall.
This install of XP is only about 2 months old. I don't use P2P, and am very careful about keeping things updated, and what sites I visit. Virus scan, AT scan daily, check all other Security Updates at least once a week. Never had a Virus or Trojan.
Has anyone had any similar experience, or can anyone offer any advice? Other than a Clean Install of ZAP?
What about reccomendations for another Firewall? BTW, I'm not running the XP Firewall.
Hardware:
AOpen AK89 Max / 754 / Nvidia 5.10
Newcastle 3000+
Tt Silent Boost
BFG 6800 GT / 71.84 drivers
2 x 512 MB OCZ 3700EB
Maxtor 300GB SATA Maxline III x 1
Seagate 200GB IDE
NEC 2510A DVD/RW
NEC 2500A DVD/RW
MX1000
Saitek Gamer KB
Dell 2405FPW
Samsung ML-1740
APC 700VA UPS
DLink Di604 Router
Software:
XP Pro SP2
ZAP
NOD32 AV 1.1089
MS Antispyware
Spybot w / Tea timer
A2 Anti-Trojan
Spyware Blaster
TDS3 Anti-Trojan
Style XP
Picasa 2 Media Detector
MBM 5
Touchpoint Software for MX1000
Samsung Laser Printer Software
RivaTuner 2.0
DU Meter
APC Powerchute Personal Edition
Quicktime
O&O Defrag
Paragon Drive Manager 5.5
Acronis True Image
Steam Client
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Don't get me wrong, I love America, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. But America often reminds of "Wackyland" in that old Porky Pig cartoon when he was looking for the Dodo. Wackyland's motto was "It can happen here." |
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MapleLeaf
Premium
join:2001-09-04
Burnaby, BC | Do you have MS Antispyware on system startup with real time protection enabled?
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Remember, I'm pulling for you - we are all in this together... |
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qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX
| said by MapleLeaf  :Do you have MS Antispyware on system startup with real time protection enabled? Yes, forgot that. |
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MapleLeaf
Premium
join:2001-09-04
Burnaby, BC
| I would disable everything from starting on boot, and enable things one at a time trying to find source of conflict. Would be helpful to know your ZAP complete configuration (screenshots, perhaps?).
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Remember, I'm pulling for you - we are all in this together... |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to qdemn7
»New versions of ZoneAlarm do out today
If you haven't read there that might be worth a look. But I see you've encountered the boot screen issue.
In regards to your browsing issue. Are you sure there isn't a conflict with the DLink router and ZoneAlarm? Maybe you need to change a setting in ZoneAlarm so the two will play nice with each other.
Your resource issue may be caused by NOD32 and ZoneAlarm not play well together. I'm thinking I read something in regards to that in the ZoneAlarm forum the other day. But don't quote me on that. I could be mistaken in that regard.
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Test Your Security Cable Diagnostics
Iggyz Blog ZoneAlarm Help |
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qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX
| reply to MapleLeaf
said by MapleLeaf :I would disable everything from starting on boot, and enable things one at a time trying to find source of conflict. Would be helpful to know your ZAP complete configuration (screenshots, perhaps?). OK here you go. Hope this helps.
--
Don't get me wrong, I love America, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. But America often reminds of "Wackyland" in that old Porky Pig cartoon when he was looking for the Dodo. Wackyland's motto was "It can happen here." |
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qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX
| reply to IGGY
said by IGGY :» New versions of ZoneAlarm do out todayIf you haven't read there that might be worth a look. But I see you've encountered the boot screen issue. In regards to your browsing issue. Are you sure there isn't a conflict with the DLink router and ZoneAlarm? Maybe you need to change a setting in ZoneAlarm so the two will play nice with each other. Your resource issue may be caused by NOD32 and ZoneAlarm not play well together. I'm thinking I read something in regards to that in the ZoneAlarm forum the other day. But don't quote me on that. I could be mistaken in that regard. Thank you so much for your help.
Could you reccomend what changes I should make between the Dlink and ZAP.
As far as NOD32 goes this is a problem striclty limited to this build of ZAP.
--
Don't get me wrong, I love America, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. But America often reminds of "Wackyland" in that old Porky Pig cartoon when he was looking for the Dodo. Wackyland's motto was "It can happen here." |
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MapleLeaf
Premium
join:2001-09-04
Burnaby, BC
| reply to qdemn7
Seems you both times did upgrade, not a clean install. Most of the time you can get away with that, but you might want to try clean install this time. Another thing - why have trusted zone on high security setting? Instead try to add your DNS server to the trusted zone and have it on medium.
Antivirus monitoring is definitely causing surge in resource consumption. Wouldn't be my choice to keep using it.
Component control. Another point, where thing sometimes go south. Good feature, but some people have problems. Are you one of them? Don't know. Check.
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Remember, I'm pulling for you - we are all in this together... |
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Hutch
My Throne is the Dunny
Premium
join:2000-10-14
Out House
 ·Internode
| reply to qdemn7
I personally run program control on default settings. You have your one set to High. Might be causing you some issues. |
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qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX | reply to MapleLeaf
OK thanks. I'll try a clean install later. As far as the AV monitoring I think you're right. XP is monitoring that, no need for both. |
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MapleLeaf
Premium
join:2001-09-04
Burnaby, BC
| Hang on a sec. You are saying XP monitors NOD. It means you have security control centre running. You sure you have ICF disabled? It takes more than one mouse click to do that, Application Layer Gateway Service (alg.exe) might still be running. Windows default for this service is "automatic", in turn it brings alg.exe up on system startup.
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Remember, I'm pulling for you - we are all in this together... |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to MapleLeaf
Under Firewall tab Advanced tab in the bottom right corner. Make sure enable ARP protection is not selected. This has been known to cause symptoms like what you described above. As for NOD and ZAP having issues or is it just this build. I'd have to go hunt for the thread I'm almost sure I read the other day in the other forum. I don't use NOD and I don't have any information except what would be in the other thread I read. Searching the ZoneLabs forum for nod32 zap gets several useful threads.
Also as was mentioned above. Make sure your not also running the windows firewall along with ZAP. Honestly I don't really feel the Microsoft antivirus monitor is needed. For forgetful users - you have automatic updates in almost every antivirus I'm aware of.
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Test Your Security Cable Diagnostics
Iggyz Blog ZoneAlarm Help |
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qdemn7
Smurf in My Loop
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Fort Worth, TX
| reply to MapleLeaf
said by MapleLeaf :Hang on a sec. You are saying XP monitors NOD. It means you have security control centre running. You sure you have ICF disabled? It takes more than one mouse click to do that, Application Layer Gateway Service (alg.exe) might still be running. Windows default for this service is "automatic", in turn it brings alg.exe up on system startup. Yep you are right agl.exe is still running. I had it on Manual, but it was still running. So I Stopped it.
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Don't get me wrong, I love America, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. But America often reminds of "Wackyland" in that old Porky Pig cartoon when he was looking for the Dodo. Wackyland's motto was "It can happen here." |
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