If you ever had a Firewall on your computer...

Can you tell me how to take it off. It would seem that my Fire wall program miss-fired and now it blocks all acces to the internet.

Well at least that is what I think is doing it. All the wires are connected, the modem says its working.

If I could only remember what the program was... ZoneAlarm!!! I got it from Download.com and it was one of those free to use editions but if you want more then buy this upgrade type of thing.


Has anyone had this problem after uninstalling a firewall program? What can I do about this? Is there any way to make use of the internet on my computer again??

--- Unconnected in Brooklyn
3,311 views 17 replies
Reply #1 Top
i have heard alot of bad things about zonealarm. I would guess you just uninstall it but i could be wrong.
Reply #2 Top
You have unplugged the modem for about a minute to reset/resynch?If not,,shut down,unplug modem,,take a couple of deep breaths,plug modem back in,wait for re-sync,reboot.I hope this might help.Sometimes these kinds of programs will not completely let go until the modem/network is rebooted.I sure hope its that simple.Let us know,,,



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Reply #3 Top
I'll give it a shot. Thanks...
Reply #4 Top
wait, do you mean re-install the modem? it came with the PC. Should I just un-connect it and reconnect it from inside the computer?

I just though of something, I should look in the regristry to see if it is still there, but I am not sure if that will help

Reply #5 Top
Jeepers JTB,,I thought were using a cable or Dsl modem,sorry.If you are using a phone line connection,a reboot will be the best you can do without going overboard.Maybe a system restore date?



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Reply #6 Top
I've had ZA Pro for several years and never had problems ( for what that's worth), but you didn't say if you actually un-installed it and then the problem started. First of all, make sure you downloaded the free version http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp and then you might want to re-install to see if the problem goes away. Sometimes if you have a static IP address ZA can't pick up the network setup correctly and thus won't let you in at all. If you in fact already un-installed I haven't a clue why or what is still in your machine that would cause that. I'll go thru my lit and see if I can find something on it........



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Reply #7 Top
Yeah I uninstalled it... there was a point when I had it working and all of a sudden it just didn't let anything through. I made sure it was set to allow everything once I realized it was not allowing anything through but it didn't work

Maybe I should do the system restore. Funny, why didn't I think of that??



It never crossed my mind

I guess that should work, but I guess what bother me is that I can't find the problem. I guess I didn't do the system restore because I felt like I was giving up!

I will give all your suggestions a shot first and do system restore as the last hope.

Hey Kona, what did you hear about ZoneAlarm? Maybe it will help me figure out where to go on my system to reset something.
Reply #8 Top
Might have something.......it may have captured your com port....I'll assume you were set to com2. Go into device manager and change it to com4 and see if it connects.....

you can also go to internet options/ setup connections and run the wizard ....maybe it will pick it up for you


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[Message Edited]
Reply #9 Top

I've been using Zone Alarm for years...... never had a problem with it. In fact, it's the firewall Steve Gibson (Gibson Research) recommends. If it stopped letting anything through, then you probably inadvertly turned on the Internet Lock. (stops all internet traffic, in or out) 

yrag...... if he turned the lock on, and then un-installed ZA, could the lock still be "locked"?
Grasping at straws here............. 





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Reply #10 Top
I was thinking the same thing Randy......I think if he engaged lock and then un-installed the registry would still show the connection locked. If he re-installs the firewall it may very well solve the problem. It's real easy, the way they have it set up, to engage the lock and not even know it unless you look at the icon.........



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Reply #11 Top
just some thoughts, suggestions and mental mastication follows...

If you can not chase this down, and if running scanreg does not find any problems with your modem or communications. Your dialup TCP/IP adapter/Modem settings are correct and your TCP/IP (protocol bound to the adapter/Modem) is configured correctly. Win2k SP3 or Win XP's personal Firewall is not enabled. Or there are not any residual files from your firewall still loading up for any odd reason the uninstall might have missed them.

you might want to go into Hyperterm and make sure nothing has changed you disconnect string or any other modem arg's (S registers)....

if nothing else works...

load Hyperterm so it initializes the modem and in the connection windows type and do the following to the factory default stored eprom settings :

type the string as show directly below and a discription of what it does is below that.

AT &F &C1 &D2 S10=55 &W

----------------------------------------
AT wakes the modem up for input

&F sets it to the default factory initialization string

&C1 sets to data carrier detect (auto sense connection speed, fall back/forward)

&D2 determines how modem uses DTR (Data Terminal Ready)

S10=55 sets the timeout value higer so your modem does not assume a dropped connection whith slow traffic

&W writes the string to the eprom so you do not have to constantly do it manually...

---------------------------------------------
Reply #12 Top
Hey Kona, what did you hear about ZoneAlarm? Maybe it will help me figure out where to go on my system to reset something.


i believe there was another thread started about zonealarm and the problem it has so if some one remembers it then i guess you can read up on it cuz i do not remember. i use sygate firewall.
Reply #13 Top
also, visit this link to ZoneLabs and Click the WIndows XP link on the left to drop down to the XP uninstall process and troubleshooting.

I would do this first and make sure ALL files are removed and registry entries...

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/support/znalm26Main.jsp#xp
[Message Edited]
Reply #14 Top
Thanks guys. Yeah, I made sure before I uninstalled ZoneAlarm that everything was unlucked (but it didn't matter even before I uninstalled it I had all the locks off, but nothing went through)

I'm going to try those other suggestions... then I am going to bed.

BTW, i am running win98 (should have said that before) and I am hoping I can put in dsl connection...

We'll see what happens, other wise reboot!!

I'll give it another go with the new info. Thanks Again.
Reply #15 Top
When Win2K came out I think there was a problem with it and ZoneAlarm...but it was soon updated......and I'm sure 'most' people have absolutely no problems with it...it's a quite popular DL....
Reply #16 Top
First, ZA has a "failsafe" mode so if a trojan tries to take it down, it blocks the internet connection so the trojan can't phone home.

Second, this can also happen if the user uninstalls incorrectly, by not completely shutting down the app before uninstalling. Before uninstalling, within the ZA program set ZA to not load on start up and then reboot. That ensures that the firewall is not running. (Just shutting the program down without the do not load on start up and reboot, closes the GUI but parts of the firewall would still be running. That can create internet connectivity problems if the program is uninstalled in that state.)

If the connectivity issue started during normal operation before you tried to uninstall, that's not a common experience. May happen with a crash, or file corruption of some sort. Usually the first troubleshooting step is to uninstall (correctly as above) and then reinstall.

Probably the way to fix it is to reinstall the firewall and then follow the instructions for uninstalling if you don't want to keep the firewall. After uninstalling, clean out bits of the firewall that may be left in the registry and whatever files it may leave. (There should be detailed uninstall instructions on the zonelabs.com website, including the files and registry entries to delete. At least there used to be with the 2.6 versions. That may also be in the program's help file. I haven't used ZA free in the 3.x versions so can't say about that.)

Info on such things is available in the program's help files and the ZoneLabs website (where there is support info and a sort of interactive support gizmo as well) and there is also a ZoneAlarm support forum where you can post questions and get peer to peer assistance.

I've used ZA for years and ZA free is good basic protection. Just as with any other product if you encounter problems, it helps if you read the program's help files or go to the developer's site to see what support info and facilities are available.



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Reply #17 Top
link posted to this info and the process to rectify the anal-yzed PC is up there in #13