Let me try to explain this.My ISP frequently drops my internet connection(bellsouth DSL "enuff said").I have my system set to automatically redial the connection and reconnect.I have several programs that run unattended while I'm away from the computer that are accessing the internet such as a stock program,a auction program etc that are continually updating.Whenever the connection is dropped and automatically reconnected,then ZA will *NOT* allow any of the programs that were running or any newly started programs access to the internet.I have to shut down ZA and restart it to get access back to all programs on my system.I ,in certain situations, sometimes shut down ZA for the time I'm gone so my auction prog will place bids at specified times.I don't like doing this but have to until I can figure out what's up with ZA.
Anyone got an idea what's going on here and how I can fix it?

TIA for any help.
Bill

Operating System: Windows XP Pro
Product Name: ZoneAlarm Pro
Software Version: 4.5

Hi Bill,

I assume you have granted theses programs internet access in your Programs List? Have you added both your DNS and DHCP server IPs to your trusted zone in your Firewall's Zone panel? Have you considered granting server rights to these programs?

Yes they have access.DNS is in the trusted zone.What is DHCP?
I have given them pass lock permission which changed nothing.Why would they need server permission?
Whenever this happens,I can't even open a NEW program and get access without closing ZA and restarting.ZA locks out ALL access.
I'll try server permission but I don't think it will help.
Any other ideas?
Bill

I wasn't sure theses programs needed 'server' rights but some few do. Try this, go to Start > Run..... type in command hit ok, then in the black DoS window that opens, type in ipconfig/all and you will get a display that includes your DNS and DHCP server IPs. Make certain your DHCP server IP is in the Trusted zone of your firewall. DHCP is a protocol for assigning dynamic IP addresses on a network and depending on your type of connection and ISP, it is likely you are being dropped. That is why you lose internet connections I think.

This is what I got:also had to space the "ipconfig /all" to get it to work

PPP adapter BellUSB:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . .: WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . .: 00-53-45-00-00-00
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . .: No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . .: 68.219.235.9
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . .: 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 68.219.235.9
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . . : 205.152.37.254
205.152.144.235
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

I'm not too up on the protocols but I do know I'm running a "PPPoA" connection using this Alcatel USB modem.The drivers are set up by Bellsouth and from looking above they apparently don't need a DHCP server for "PPPoA" connections.Prehaps for a "PPPoE"connection.Tried server permissions for all browsers and other programs with no luck.
Still want give any progs access til shut down and restart of ZA.
I appreciate the ideas though.[/b]

Hmmm. I looked and my 'default gateway' is in my Firewall's trusted zone, but I'm using a router. I've put the subnet mask 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0 in my trusted zone. Try adding the subnet mask range & your default gateway to see if that works.

Bill,
I'm assuming from reading the ZA boards that your Bill Cherry.I'm in Union City south of Atlanta Airport.Are you also on Bellsouths system?

Yup shows:
BellUSB 68.158.70.84/255.255.255.255 Network Internet
The first set changes with connections and I assume ZA picks up the new IP address from my connection.Every time I have checked these numbers they have matched the IP address my connection shows.
Last time I looked like yesterday I think.It was something like:
68.155.238.9/255.255.255.255
ZA set this entry automatically when I first gave it permission to.
I have changed averything to "Trusted" and to "Internet" given permissions denied permissions still no luck.
I should have a copy of ZA Pro 2.x somewhere in the 8 discs in my system and I'm seriously considering reloading it.Never had this problem til somewhere around 3.x.Really never had to worry since my system never went down like it does now.Now it's getting bothersome with the rain coming in.Last year about this time I had to go to dialup because it rained so much my DSL would drop every minute or so.In clear weather there's no problem,the system will stay up for months.
Bill

Bill......I'm gulity as charged. I am BillCherryAtl up here in the big city; I'm using Comcast. Who is the cable provider in Union City? I'm not saying BellSouth is the problem, but I'm most pleased with Comcast.

The reason you get dropped I still believe is because the dynamic IP Ma Bell is giving you when you get dropped and reconnected. Normal putting your DHCP server in your trusted zone will fix this problem. There is a solution and I'm not convinced going to an earlier release of ZA is it.

Try this, but 68.152.0.0/ 68.159.255.255 in your trusted zone and see if that will fix your problem. It could be a ZAP problem at which case a clean install will be our next try.

BTW, did you post this question over on the ZA boards? I didn't notice.

The short answer is Comcast but I'm on Fairburn cable which comes out of Coweta County and I'm not sure of the name.I get my TV on the satalite.
And yes I did post it on ZAs board.Same subject line.
I will give your idea a shot and see what happens.I know there has to be a simple solution,it's a matter of finding it.
Thanks,
Bill

Hey Bill,

The IP range I gave you is used by Bell South, but there should be a single IP for their DHCP server. I'd call Bell South technical support, discribe your problem, and ask them out right if they have a DHCP server IP. It seems to me they must in order to dynamicly assign IPs as they do.

I think the range I gave you will work, but I don't think that is the best solution. Give it a go and see what happens.

Bill

Bill,
I want to thank you for all the help.
I am so dumb sometimes.
I was going through the XP Pro "Services" again and I found a service called "PortsLock" (a service to protect the network from internal access)and I just remembered that I gave my wife permission to install it. It was only a trial ware program that should have expired 2 years ago or more. Only the service has continued to run all this time. Prehaps if it had been configured correctly I never would have had this problem. Uninstalling it has restored my system to a useable state.
I am fixing to uninstall all the junk that she had put in here and never gets used(about 50 or so programs as far as I can see). Since I divorced her almost 2 years ago,I don't think she'll ever need them. I was going through the Services,starting/stopping as needed trying to find out if one of them was the culprit.Such as DNS service/DHCP service/IP config etc when I found it.
So again,I thank you.
Bill McCartney

Hey Bill. That is great news that you noodled this one out. I was at a loss as you could tell as to what was cutting you off. When the 'normal' things don't fix the problem then I'm out in the twlight zone because it could be many things. Thanks for letting me know.

BillC