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General discussion

Zone Alarm causes random Internet Connection drops - Why?

by Elysian Aug 22, 2005 6:26AM PDT

Hello,
I have Windows XP Pro SP2 installed with Zone Alarm Pro and Norton Antivirus.
Windows Firewall is disabled, I use only Zone Alarm as firewall.
I connect to the internet by cables using a network adapter.

I am recently experiencing frequent and random internet connection drops.
My conncetion just suddenly disconnects, regardless of any specific program opened (But the cable modem stays online and synchronized). If I then try to reconnect it succeeds, meaning I recieve no error of any kind.
When I'm connected, I do not experience any problems, and all programs work, and DL/UL are just fine.

I've contacted my local cable company and ISP.
Cable company checked for any problems with my connection - None exist.
Had a chat with my ISP's Technical Support, and they checked all my settings - All good. They suspected that my firewall is causing all this, so I uninstalled it and everything was working, my connection is no longer dropping. Reinstalled - boom, got hit again.

Comments:
1.The firewall was configured well, and the connection worked perfectly while it was connected.
2. Yesterday I had the entire motherboard replaced under warranty (new computer) since the original got fried somehow. Since then the problem occur.
The motherboard is completely new and has a network adapter onboard.
(I'm not sure if it's related)

My question - Since I prefer using Zone Alarm over Windows Firewall,
does any one know of any setting in a firewall that would cause such disconnections? (My ISP's technical support didn't have a clue )
Any ideas how to fix this?

Discussion is locked

17 Posts
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Read the Virus Forum about this.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 22, 2005 6:54AM PDT

Not only that, zonelabs.com has support for you as well.

Bob

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I've scanned for viruses and spyware and didn't find any
by Elysian Aug 22, 2005 7:58AM PDT

I scanned for viruses using Norton Antivirus, and also with the online Panda scanner,
and checked for adware, spyware, you name it..my computer is clean, so I don't think the virus forum is relevant.

Aside that, I alredy searched zonelabs.com, and their common answer in that manner is "Reinstall and clear all previous settings". That did not help.
I didn't find any profound solution there.
I also Upgraded ZoneAlarm to the latest version, didn't help.
All my drivers are up to date, and my connection was just fine till yesterday.
I don't know how to solve this, and hoped this forum might provide me some insight.
(If you think my problem doesn't belong here, you're welcome to forward it to a more relevant forum)

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Odd. I didn't note any virus issue.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 22, 2005 8:34AM PDT

I noted you should check the Virus forum for a Zonealarm discussion. Try that.

As to your note, I agree with zonelabs assessment. I too rip out ZA too many times to get machines working again.

Cheers,

Bob

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(NT) (NT) Thanks for your reply, I'll go look it up
by Elysian Aug 22, 2005 8:45AM PDT
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so whats the solution to ZA dropping my internet connection?
by wejam99 Sep 11, 2005 11:53PM PDT

I have the same problem, except mine drops after some idle time, and then I must restart zone alarm to free my internet connection. I checked the settings; don't see anything that would freeze my internet connection. I too use broadband, modem and router are synched.XP hope edition.

Help!

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The other discussion.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 12, 2005 12:15AM PDT

If you didn't check the Virus forum, it was noted that a recent update caused some grief. As I noted above, I uninstall it completely and what I didn't share was I install it again after the issue is resolved.

Cheers,

Bob

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Hi, Bob...
by Lyn Layton Sep 22, 2005 7:19AM PDT

OS: WinMe (5 years old, but a clean machine with no other issues)

RAM: 512 MB

Browsers: Firefox 1.0.7
IE6 SP1 (only when necessary)

Security:
Zone Alarm 4.5.594
AVG Free
SystemSuite 6 with PC-cillin + Trendmicro's Anti-Spyware (both on demand)
Ad-aware
Spybot
ScriptSentry
SpywareBlaster
SpywareGuard

I have been having the same problem for about 2 months with Road Runner. The connection has been checked multiple times inside and outside as well as via tech support on the phone (ZA disabled, etc.. Removed/reinstalled TCP/IP Everything looks wonderful from their end.) They are puzzled and so am I. Connection is intermittent some days. Webpages load slowly or time out, but at other times no problem. Sometimes I cannot connect at all.

There is NO malware on the machine. I've done a list of scans as long as my arm. Creating a Restore Point while I have a good connection, and restoring after the connection quits, does not help.

If a newer machine (XP Home with updated ZA Free rather than v. 4.5 but same additional security) is connected to the line, THAT ONE has no problem staying online. Therefore, I am now wondering if it could be an OS problem, and if I should reformat -- or reinstall my v.4.5.594 ZA. Other than that, everything, including backup Earthlink dial-up runs smoothly, and WinMe has had no other signs of Windows rot.

If you have any suggestions, I'd love hearing them, because I have spent too many hours on this two-month-old project. Thanks!

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Yup. 4.x
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 22, 2005 8:42AM PDT

That's what a lot of people did. But on Windows ME, there's not much protection being adding to that DOS based OS because there was nothing to exploit. DOS based Windows are prime candidates to run without ZA.

Bob

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Sans ZA?
by Lyn Layton Sep 22, 2005 11:34AM PDT

I realize the situation with 9x/ME .... but are you saying this old version of ZA is the cause of my connection problems in the last 2 months, after being trouble-free for the months prior? Why all of a sudden? So I should remove ZA and operate without any firewall whatsoever?

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Just a thought.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 23, 2005 6:54AM PDT

Microsoft patches plus what else can conspire to make an unruly machine. You have to experiment to find what works best. At least with the DOS based Windows it's not much of a risk.

Bob

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Thanks, But I Give Up.
by Lyn Layton Sep 23, 2005 10:39AM PDT
''You have to experiment to find what works best.''
ZA has now been disabled, but not removed yet. Still could not connect with Road Runner. After checking the calendar, I wondered if there could be a conflict with RR Dialup Access which was installed (for use when traveling) right before I had problems. When I experienced time-outs on cable, the RR Dialup window would open asking to connect -- seemed strange to me, but the settings look okay. After two weeks of experimenting, I'm out of ideas, and I've talked to everybody at Time Warner's National Help Desk except Road Runner himself.
Thank you for your suggestions, though. Happy
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ZA has no true disable.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 23, 2005 8:40PM PDT

Zonelabs writes about this at there discretion. When I have issues with ZA, I find I must uninstall it to really get it out of the way.

Bob

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Ah, Ha! Thanks, Bob!
by Lyn Layton Sep 24, 2005 12:09AM PDT

When I set the security to "Low" it noted: "Firewall is off." After that in the Preferences I unchecked the box "Load ZA at Startup". Therefore, I figured ZA was disabled. I'll try removing ZA completely. Thank you for the additional info!

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You might try Sygate Personal Firewall
by chuckieu Sep 25, 2005 5:45AM PDT
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zonealarm drops internet
by ltq Oct 26, 2005 12:19PM PDT

i removed zone alarm and am using only windows firewall. now everything works fine. my friend is a network administrator and all he uses at work and home is the windows firewall.

you have ti uninstall zone alarm completely.

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Road Runner and ZA Free
by auggief Nov 5, 2005 5:33PM PST

I help several of my neighbors and four of them having this same isssue all of a sudden. In fact "my" computer, after sitting idle for a couple of hours, would not connect and I had to restart. I unintalled ZA and all is well. Using Windows XP Firewall for now. No question in my mind that Road Runner(cable) has a conflict with ZA. I sent them an email and suggested they work out the conflict with ZA. I won't hold my breath.

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Ethernet or USB connection to cable modem
by domesticus Nov 8, 2005 6:08AM PST

I use Zone Alarm with Norton Anti-virus and have had no problems with Windows XP.
I have the latest drivers and patches from Microsoft.
I thought you said you were using Ethernet network adapter?
I use Ethernet to connect to the internet high speed.
You might want to try using USB connection instead if you can find the cables? You will need to install the USB driver first as documented in your install guides.

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