Zone Alarm Inte causing system to lock up requiring a HDD wipe and reload of OS

[migoblu]

Before I install Zone Alarm Internet Security (ZA IS), my system (AMD 2000+, 512 MB Dimm, Koolance Cooling System) runs fine; I can connect to the internet over my wireless network (RA Link RT2500 wireless NIC and Linksys WRT54GP2 Wireless G Broadband Router), and load and run programs.

Once I install ZA IS the system locks up at the desktop and will not perform any function that I have stated. An hourglass appears in the taskbar area, but when the mouse pointer is moved to the desktop area there is no hourglass, moving the mouse pointer back to the taskbar area the hourglass is still there and whatever is trying to load never loads. The start button locks up and I can only shut the system down by using the power button on the computer.

When I restart the system the same thing as stated above happens. The only resolution is to wipe the HDD and reload the OS and all other programs. I have done this reload 4 times. At present time the system is reloaded and working fine without ZA IS installed. I am very hesitant to install ZA IS anymore.

My wife’s computer system (Intel 3.2 Dual Core, 1 GB Dimm, RA Link RT 2500 wireless NIC connecting to the same Linksys wireless router), also runs ZA IS, but her system has not reacted like mine, though her system does have very slow boot time and very sluggish operating function.

The ZA IS software is provided by our IP (ZA IS version unknown at this time), so could that be a problem, or do we need more memory in both our systems? But, will increasing the memory only provide a temporary fix, and will ZA IS continue to take up so much available memory to function that it will eventually be so much of a memory hog that no increase of memory will ever please it?

[glc]

It's a hog. Install AVG Free antivirus and some free antispyware apps that don't run in the background, and use the XP firewall if you are connected through a router. I don't know of a single "suite" that doesn't slow things down. I would also advise wired connections to the router where feasible, just because it *is* wireless doesn't mean you have to use it that way.

[migoblu]

is that a good spyware program that doesn't run in the background, and where can I get AVG Free? Thanks.

[Alaron]

Spybot is a good program.

www.free.grisoft.com for AVG.

[migoblu]

Thanks for the info.

[usnavyretired]

Here are a couple of free anti-spyware apps:
1. Hazard Shield....http://www.orbitech.org/
2.. SuperAntiSpyware.....http://www.superantispyware.com
I run both, I have HS to load at boot, it doesn't use allot of memory. I use SASW as a weekly scanner, I like both programs but I also use NIS 2008 and SpySweeper which are not free.

[usnavyretired]

One thing I forgot to mention, to run Hazard Shield, you must have .NET framework 2 installed,
Orbitech has a link on the download page for it.

[delikios]

Could you possibly had another anti-virus installed in your system, when you tried to install zonealarm? For a light weight anti-virus I use: Avira's Antivir from http://www.free-av.com

[migoblu]

I have the problem solved. I sent this same posting to Zone Alarm Tech Support, and here is their reply that seemed to work so far:

Thank you for contacting ZoneAlarm Technical Support.

I understand that you are experiencing issues when installing ZoneAlarm on your
machines. I apologize for any inconvenience that this issue may be causing you.

This could be due to other software on the system. I highly recommend clearing your
Startup prior to installing ZoneAlarm again if you wish to test this.

1. Click Start > Run > type in: msconfig

2. Click OK.

3. Put a bullet next to 'Selective Startup' and remove the check from 'Load Startup
Group Items'

4. Click the Services tab.

7. Click Hide all Microsoft Services.

8. Click Disable all.

9. Click OK, Restart.

10. Reinstall ZoneAlarm.

I did this and installed Zone Alarm Internet Security from their web site using my IP's key and it worked with no propblems. I reset the Startup in msconfig and Microsoft Services, and no problems so far. Thanks everyone for all the ideas. I hope this helps omeone else in the future.