ZoneAlarm 6.5.700.000 is now available from Zonelabs, Majorgeeks, and the usual download locations.


New and improved features in ZoneAlarm version 6.5.700.000

• Game mode: Right-mouse click control to stop alerts from interrupting game play.
  
• Addresses inability to delete ZoneAlarm files in Safe Mode.
  
• Addressed incompatibility with Red Orchestra Game.
  
• Fixed a service stability issue.
  
• Reduced memory usage during Anti-Spyware scan.
  
• Improved Boot time.
  
• Various other fixes.

Hi pwilliner:

I currently have Zone Alarm Security Suite 6.1.744.001 installed.

A) Is the ZA 6.5 a security suite as well or is it just the firewall componenet of zone alarm?

B) Is this a free upgrade, and can the subscription from Zone Alarm Security Suite continue over to the ZA 6.5 ?

Thanks in advance:

Elio

It is an update for all versions. There are new features in it as well.

As for the upgrade, if your license is still valid, the upgrade is free.

I would be wary of upgrading to v 6.5 just yet.

There are many problems reported with it, at least on XP. Some of the ones reported at the Zone labs forum include:
If you run chkdsk on a restart, after chkdsk has finished you get a BSOD and only starting in last known good configuration works.
PerfectDisk 7 offline defrag for the system partition does not work.
Home page in IE6 is locked, as are certain Start Page keys that prevent install of IE 7 beta 2.
HOSTS file is locked: you can't rename or replace it. (note: this is with the lock HOSTS file option unchecked in Firewall/Main/Advanced)

I've experienced all but the first of these myself with ZA free v 6.5.700 and 6.5.714. I haven't tried running chkdsk with ZA 6.5 instaled, as I don't want a BSOD.

Another problem: ZoneAlarm will not start at all (blocking Internet access) and if you try to run it manually it'll give you a warning about not having enough privileges crap.

It is important to point out that with the introduction of V6.5x, none of the ZoneAlarm applications, ZoneAlarm® Internet Security Suite, ZoneAlarm® Pro, ZoneAlarm® Antivirus, ZoneAlarm® Anti-Spyware, and ZoneAlarm® will support Windows 98/98SE/Me. See here.

_________________
Bill, AFE7Ret
Freedom is NOT Free!

ZoneAlarm 6.5.737.000 is now available. I have used the following steps to upgrade - no problems were encountered, and all firewall and program settings were preserved.

1. Unchecked 'Load ZoneAlarm at startup' [reboot]
   
2. Backed up C:\Windows\Internet Logs\IAMDB.RDB
   
3. Installed ZoneAlarm 6.5.737.000 ('clean install') [reboot to Safe Mode]
   
4. Restored saved IAMDB.RDB file [reboot to normal mode]
   

I have never felt it necessary to go through those steps to upgrade ZA Free or Pro - and I have been using it for years without incident - I currently have it on 7 machines here.

As far as ensuring all user customizations and settings are maintained, again, I have never lost those during an upgrade. I have on several occasions, selected clean install for the sole purpose of forcing a clean slate - to get rid of all the unnecessary and/or one-time installers, hotfix packages, setup utilities, updaters, and other crud that ZA puts in there. I wish that ZA would not add one time apps to the Programs list as many users just don't understand what needs to stay and what can go.

It seems to me the worse that could happen is I wake up one morning and find AVG is waiting for me to give ZA permission to let AVG through to check for updated files. No big deal and only a one-time deal - the next morning is fine.

I also don't find it a hassle to quickly add my network into the trusted zone.

So I just don't see that your precautionary steps are all that necessary.

JMHO.

_________________
Bill, AFE7Ret
Freedom is NOT Free!

I have stayed with 6.1.744 until yesterday. I had tried the first 6.5 version with the usual problems. I did a complete uninstall and a clean install of 6.5.737, restoring my old settings from 6.1.744. I have not had the old problems:

-Perfectdisk Boot Defrag works.
-Chkdsk works.
-No nagging OS warnings.

Two slight issues:

1. Slower boot up.
2. ZAP shutdown is slightly slower than WinXP and a ZAP shutdown screen flashes for a fraction of a second.

Don't know if the upgrade is an improvement, but it is runable.

I sure find it odd that of the 7 systems now running in this house, the status page for all say the "Firewall is up to date." Additionally, from the preferences page, if I click on check for update, it it still indicates all systems are current. Yet they are all still running 6.5.722.000!

_________________
Bill, AFE7Ret
Freedom is NOT Free!

Another issue: ZAP v6 has always created multiple ~DF5859.tmp files in the User's Temp Folder, while only using 1-2 in a session. The rest are "dead" and just continue to accumulate. While annoying, I just periodically delete the "dead" .tmp files.

Now I find that 6.5.737 also creates .tmp files in Windows main Temp folder. These files are named ZLT0020b.TMP, ZLT07193.TMP, etc. and also accumulate even though they are "dead".

Can't ZAP clean up after itself? I'm toying with going back to 6.1.744.

You should have only two ZLT*.TMP files and they will be date-stamped at the time you last rebooted - all others can be deleted. If you have more, that means one of two things, Windows froze or was rebooted abruptly - that is, not through the Start Menu, and/or Zone Alarm did not quite have time to shut down properly before Windows shutdown. Note this might happen during a ZA upgrade when the upgrade program terminates ZA. I don't have a bunch of other temp files but the fact that yours start with a "~" tells me they were open and not closed properly - again, such as when the computer is not shut down properly through the Start menu. If you keep having them accumulate, then I think you have other issues there. How many are you seeing?

I would not roll back to an older version - many of these update are security updates and you need the latest and greatest. Certainly one thing you can do is run CrapCleaner once a week or so. It is great at cleaning systems of temporary files, including all history and cache files. Before first use, check Options, Settings and ensure Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 48 hours is unchecked. Note that it's "Issues" checker is a great Registry cleaner as well. Ensure you follow the prompts to backup the Registry before making changes.

_________________
Bill, AFE7Ret
Freedom is NOT Free!

Thanks Bill,

Yea, the new ZAP doesn't shutdown quick enough for WinXP and you're probably right about that being the source of all of the .tmp files.