ZoneAlarm Pro 3.5.169.002 issues
On December 12 Zone Alarm Pro issued a critical update 3.5.169.002 which I promptly installed. I have had issues with Zone Alarm's VSMON crashing frequently and randomly every since. Each time this crash occurs all of my settings are wiped out including my password.
I have opened up a trouble ticket with Zone Alarm asking about possible resolutions of this issue and would recommend that you use caution in installing this update until Zone Labs issues a new update or fixes this issue if you do a lot of custom configuration.
Solution to VMON crash after upgrade
I received a response back from Zone Alarm. Evidently this has been known to happen with Zone Alarm upgrades. The solution to fixing this is below. The steps jumped from step 1 to step 3 in the original message?
Quote:
If you get error messages regarding a file beginning with VS,
or a license key showing as expired when it shouldn't be after an
upgrade, be sure to NOT reinstall any previous versions first. Simply
perform the clean install instructions below, then install ONLY the
very latest version.
In order to completely remove ZA/ZAP from your system, please do the
following. If any of the steps below do not apply to you, or you are
unable to perform the function listed, please continue to the next
step.
1. Open the ZoneAlarm Pro program, go to the OVERVIEW >> PREFERENCES
tab, and make sure the Load At Startup box is UNchecked.
3. REBOOT.
4. You should now have no ZoneAlarm/ZoneAlarm Pro processes running
on your system.
5. Now run Start, Programs, Zone Labs, Uninstall. Be sure to say YES
to delete all files, and you MUST allow TrueVector service to shut
down in order to remove files.
WARNING - Do NOT run the ZoneAlarm Uninstall program while in Safe
Mode. The program may not be able to make the proper registry changes
in Safe Mode, thus generating errors after a reboot.
6. REBOOT.
7. To make sure that you can see the ZoneAlarm/ZoneAlarm Pro system
files, if they are still on your computer:
a. Right-click on Start, then left-click on Explore. When the Windows
Explorer panel appears:
- In Windows 95,98,and NT: Click View>Options (in Windows 98, this
will be called "Folder Options"). Click the "View" tab, then click
the "Show all files" radio button.
- In Windows ME, 2000: Click Tools>Folder Options. Click the "View"
tab, then click the "Show hidden files and folders" radio button.
b. Make sure you also UNcheck the box to "Hide Protected Operating
System Files" if you have one.
c. Click OK.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Making modifications to system files may disable
crucial functions of your Windows operating system. We strongly
suggest re-enabling the "Hide files and folders" feature once all
ZoneAlarm/ZoneAlarm Pro files have been removed. See the following
web page, and verify that the files and folders are removed:
8. Click on Start, then Search or Find, and select Files. Make sure
that the location box is set to search your local hard drive (usually
C :) or All Local Drives.
Type the following exactly - delete any folders found:
zonelabs
"zone labs"
"Internet logs"
Type the following exactly - delete any files found in \Windows or
any subfolder below it, or in your \Temp folder):
vsdata.dll
vsdata95.vxd
vsdatant.sys
vsmon.*
vsmonapi.dll
vsnetutils.dll
vspubapi.dll
vsutil.dll
zaplus.*
zapro.*
zllictbl.dat
zlparser.dll
zonealarm.exe
Type the following exactly - delete any files found in any folder
with "Programs" in the pathname):
zapro
zonealarm
"zonealarm pro"
Open the Internet Logs directory (in 95/98/ME this will
be "c:\windows\internet logs", in NT and 2000 it will be
c:\winnt\internet logs, in Windows XP it could be either of these
folders). If you need to keep a copy of old alerts, copy the
ZAlog.txt file to another location first - then delete ALL files in
this folder.
9. Make sure your Recycle Bin is empty (right-click and select
Empty).
10. REBOOT
NOTE: If you received an error message upon deleting the files, or if
the original programs remain in the Programs list, or if the problem
persists after this, removing the files in Safe Mode will allow you
to delete the files properly. If you need further help with this,
please reply to this email keeping all text intact as we do not
archive previous emails.
Now you should be able to get a clean install of the new version. Be
sure to NOT use the old settings as this can cause further
difficulties if the database is corrupt.
