I've been running the new Vista compatible ZoneAlarm firewall (free version)
for 10 days or so, with no problems at all. It works exactly as it does on
my XP boxes.
As to having to track down 10 or so registry keys after uninstalling, that
is trivial compared to the HUNDREDS that Symantec leaves behind.
As in all things a complex as our PCs, there are so many combinations of
variable, there are bound to be some that won't work right. Amazing that
they work as often and as well as they do!
Val
running Vista Home Premium with AVG Antivirus (free)
"CB" <CB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news
095A2B6-6D8C-457E-B272-1F4A3B6540FE@microsoft.com...
>
>
> Regardless of what ZoneAlarm tells you, it is not Vista compatible. I used
> ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite for many years on my XP computer. I had
> no
> problems with the software and it did exactly as advertised. I felt naked
> without it.
>
> However, I have tried (yesterday) to download and install the ZoneAlarm
> Firewall (advertised as Vista compatible) and the new ZoneAlarm Internet
> Security Suite, trial version (advertised as Vista compatible). Both of
> these programs downloaded flawlessly but when it came to the installation
> process it was a nightmare. Once installed I had nothing but major
> problems.
> During the installation process and after the installation process I had
> to
> do many hard shutdowns just to unlock my computer. The programs never did
> actually function.
>
> Of course, I can't contact ZoneAlarm about this because I do not have a
> subscription number, since the firewall is free and the Security Suite is
> the
> trial version.
>
> I do not have any incompatible software causing these problems with
> ZoneAlarm products. I haven't been denied permission and I did not have to
> elevate any priveleges. Nothing was blocked or altered by my antivirus,
> which
> is NOD32. Nothing was blocked by my firewall. The applications were
> unblocked
> prior to installing. I uninstalled my NOD32 prior to downloading
> ZoneAlarm. I
> disabled my firewall during the downloading and installation of ZoneAlarm.
>
> I know how to download and install software. I don't have these problems
> with any other software applications. As a matter of fact my Vista OS has
> performed quite well with very few problems, those problems for the most
> part
> being of my own making. I attempted the installation process of the
> ZoneAlarm
> products in normal mode, safe mode and as an administrator.
>
> I finally decided that ZoneAlarm has gone the way of McAfee and
> Norton/Symantec. By that I mean to say that today's ZoneAlarm products are
> nothing but trouble. I would suggest that people looking for security
> software should use NOD32, Avast or Kaspersky. Actually, I would recommend
> NOD32 over all of them. NOD32 loads quickly, performs in the background
> with
> no performance problems and has a small footprint.
>
> By the way, after you uninstall any ZoneAlarm product you will have to go
> into the registry and delete the remaining ten or fifteen entries left on
> your system, just like McAfee and Norton/Symantec. I have no faith in a
> company that cannot even remove all the aspects of their own software. If
> they cannot write an uninstall program successfully how can I expect them
> to
> write a proper security application?
>
> I am not trashing ZoneAlarm, McAfee and Norton/Symantec. I am only
> relating
> my experiences with the applications based upon years of personal use. To
> sum
> it up quickly: garbage in is garbage out. If these companies do not wish
> to
> have their products criticized based upon facts they should offer products
> that work properly without bloating your OS.
>
> Have a nice day.
>
> C.B.