Ok, let’s see if I can help. I’m not so sure this is a Zone Alarm problem. I did some simple tests on my Sony Vaio w/Intel Duo Core T7100 2Gb ram using IE7 and DSL 6000 thru a D-Link DIR 635 wireless router. I always used the same website to load—http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog (sorry, to those who politically disagree ;D). I always have all the recent updates.
Here are my results:
Avast and Zone Alarm running—34 to 36 seconds to load site.
Avast without Zone Alarm running (checked task manager to make sure nothing is running in background like zlclient.exe)—34 to 36 seconds.
Avast terminated and Zone Alarm is running—4 seconds.
Both programs terminated—about 2 seconds.
I have also had some unexplained crashes that may or may not be related. I will send an email of my memory dump to you.
Another thing, my daughter’s computer using the same router, Zone Alarm, and Avast…but with XP and Firefox installed loads the site in about 7 seconds.
Ok everybody…first my apologies to vlk and others who work on Avast. 8)
Please ignore the following post I made:
Posted on: Today at 12:57:15 PMPosted by: James W.
Turning Zone Alarm off is not enough to solve the problem…you need to uninstall it, or maybe keeping it from loading into memory works, to correct the problem. I can now surf with blinding speed…with Avast running.
I am not having any problems with slowdowns using the latest Avast! and Vista Ultimate 32. As far as firewalls, I tried Zone Alarm previously and discarded it immediately because of the slowdown. Just started using the latest Beta of Comodo 3.0.10 and it is very stable, no slowdown. Just about ready for RCs and release, but so far Comodo is excellent and works well with Avast! once you have given the proper permissions to the popups.
Unfortunately, I do not remember what version I had before (It came with the computer) but you did prompt me to go into the control panel and remove the remaining two obvious Norton products (Notifier and LiveUpdate) I hope it fixes the issue of a slow computer on down the road! (I had the same isue and was currently discussing this on this board.
I also have the same problem since the last version of the Avast program: slow to start all programs & slow browsing. I am running Vista Home Premium on a 2-months old Dell 9200 Core 2 Duo E6600, 4GHz RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive. I use Zone Alarm free for firewall.
From Vik’s posting, it appears there are 2 problems: a) compatibility with Zone Alarm, and b) Avast’s own Standard Shield problem. Obviously, the problem lies with Avast, not with Zone Alarm, since both software were working fine together previously. I hope Avast will take its responsibilities and solve its own problems instead of asking customers to switch firewall, which is a big task for the users, considering we need to learn a new interface and re-build the firewall permissions. If you need some time to resolve the problem, could we go back to the last version of Avast that worked well?
I to am having issues since I upgraded. My raid controller gives constant critical error messages for both drives in my array with standard shield enabled. When I pause standard shield, no more issues. I am running Vista Ultimate 32bit on an AMD Opty 180, Asus A8N32-SLi Deluxe Mb, 2GB Crucial Ballistix Ram and two 500GB Western Digital Caviar SE16 drives on the Nvidia Raid controller as a striped array. This problem only occured with build 1074 of Avast.
Well, that’s not true, of course (that it’s obvious). An improvement, or even a fix in one program may cause a bug in another program to manifest itself - but it’s still a bug in that program, even if it was somehow hidden previously.
I’m afraid we can’t fix ZoneAlarm’s bugs… that are reproducible even with other software (i.e. without avast! present).
This seems to be a completely unrelated problem (i.e. it would be best to post it in a new topic, not in this thread).
Any more details about the critical errors? I mean, does it say anything specific? When do you get these errors?
What about your Standard Shield problem, you can’t blame ZA for that. Are you going to fix that problem soon?
Can you recommend an alternate free firewall that is compatible with Avast? I could always fall back on the Windows Firewall, but as you know, it only blocks inbound traffic, not outbound.
I have been using Avast on my previous computer (XP) with Kerio Personal Firewall for more than 2 years without any problems. Unfortunately KPF does not work with Vista; the company that bought it from Kerio says it will be available in December 07, but I need something in the meantime, and I am not sure I want to be a guinea pig for a new product.
Right now there are only three free firewalls for Vista: Comodo (beta), PcTools and ZA.
I’ve tested the two first ones. No luck.
I’m staying with Vista Firewall configuring the outbound connections in the Advanced mode. I have no other option.
Vista firewall is a basic two way firewall now… That is currently my only firewall as I have found none that are to the standard I require. Zonealarm is doing either the free version or the suite with no middle ground. Vista ultimate and no slow down or crashes
Did you found any tutorial to configure all the entries on the advanced mode?
I’m sure that if they are tweaked, the leak tests results will be improved on Vista firewall.
Just I did not found (yet) a good tutorial for each entry and I’m not a network guru
Try the current Comodo 3.0.10 beta. It is the last beta before the release candidate and is very stable, few issues. I am using it with no real problems, no Avast! conflicts/slowdowns in particular.
2. Can you recommend an alternate free firewall that is compatible with Avast? I could always fall back on the Windows Firewall, but as you know, it only blocks inbound traffic, not outbound.
[/quote]
Right now there are only three free firewalls for Vista: Comodo (beta), PcTools and ZA.
I’ve tested the two first ones. No luck.
I’m staying with Vista Firewall configuring the outbound connections in the Advanced mode. I have no other option.
[/quote]
Thanks. I’ll take a look. But I wish a list of the ‘default’ settings and then a list of the ‘suggested tweak’ settings. There are tons of defaults (inbound and outbound) here: Administrative Tools >
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.
Thanks. I’ve forgotten this. Anyway, I’m on Vista and can’t even simulate the problem. They can’t either… so, seems that the users can, kindly, give them more info to solve any trouble.
