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Author Topic: Another Tech Support Thread  (Read 2429 times)

Zrk2

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Another Tech Support Thread
« on: April 29, 2011, 11:20:17 pm »

Hello Bay 12,

Today I was attempting to install Zone Alarm Extreme Security, and it was incompatible with windows 7 apparently, but following the link it provided in the set up it said that it should now function, so I attempted to install it anyway.

After that failed I attempted to access the internet and could not. I have tried WiFi and I have used an ethernet cable and it will not load a single webpage using either, even the ethernet cord with which I have always had decent speed before.

Do you know anything about any problems with said program, or do you have any ideas what could have caused this?

This post is from the family PC.

Thanks, Zrk2
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KaelGotDwarves

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2011, 11:36:22 pm »

Yes, I know your problem. Don't install Zonealarm.

It's notorious for causing more problems than it "solves".

I would uninstall it and my personal advice is to use Commonsense2011 as your antivirus and Malwarebytes Anti-malware as a daily scanner. Smart browsing > any anti-virus. Unfortunately you can't buy wiser end-users.

And all of the IT professionals I've worked with use Malwarebytes.

Zrk2

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2011, 11:40:40 pm »

I noticed, I tried uninstalling it and it failed due to incompatibility, so I found it's file in my programs and deleted it, not as neat as uninstalling, but it should work.

However, I still have no internet access.

Also, I'm running a full system scan with McAfee (it came with the laptop).
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Sir Finkus

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2011, 11:45:20 pm »

I noticed, I tried uninstalling it and it failed due to incompatibility, so I found it's file in my programs and deleted it, not as neat as uninstalling, but it should work.

However, I still have no internet access.

Also, I'm running a full system scan with McAfee (it came with the laptop).
Yeah, deleting the program files folder isn't going to work.  I've heard that zone alarm has turned into crap lately.  My suggestion would be to run a repair installation, then take a whack at it with revo uninstaller.  You don't really need a software firewall behind a nat router unless your network is infested with a bunch of infected computers.  Even in that case, the stock firewall in "public" mode should be secure enough for most people.  Be away that this may interfere with file and printer sharing if you have that set up.

KaelGotDwarves

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2011, 11:46:33 pm »

Well, if you were forced to delete the program that disabled your internet and the problem still persists - check your network settings in control panel. Also Start button -> Run -> type "cmd" -> type "ipconfig" and check that out ->type "ipconfig /release" -> type "ipconfig /renew" -> type "ipconfig /flushDNS" 

I would also download CCleaner on your family computer and transfer it by flashdrive to your lappy.

CCleaner does a registry cleanup so hopefully something or another fixes up. Simply deleting installed programs from a computer doesn't wipe the entire thing from memory.

Good luck.

EDIT: Revo unistaller is good too.
« Last Edit: April 29, 2011, 11:48:19 pm by KaelGotDwarves »
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G-Flex

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2011, 11:50:54 pm »

I noticed, I tried uninstalling it and it failed due to incompatibility, so I found it's file in my programs and deleted it, not as neat as uninstalling, but it should work.

However, I still have no internet access.

Also, I'm running a full system scan with McAfee (it came with the laptop).

  • Trying to "uninstall" a program by finding its primary store of data and deleting it is a terrible idea for most things, never mind an antivirus, which tends to get very, uh, involved in how your system operates. You should expect this to break things.
  • Installing more than one realtime protection program at a time is usually unnecessary and a very bad idea; things conflict.
  • Remove anything that came with the computer, because it's only going to have a trial subscription; I can pretty much guarantee you that. If I'm wrong in this case, then great, but I doubt it. Trial subscriptions are worthless, because once they run out, you have to replace the software anyway.
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Zrk2

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #6 on: April 30, 2011, 12:01:07 am »

I have a full copy that came with the computer and it says I have 400 something days left in my subscription, so I doubt that is the problem.

And my internet connection was borked when I tried to uninstall it via the uninstaller it had.

Any ideas on what else could be the problem? I am using the same ethernet cord for this computer right now, so that discounts that being the problem.
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G-Flex

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2011, 01:52:36 am »

I have a full copy that came with the computer and it says I have 400 something days left in my subscription, so I doubt that is the problem.

I'm not saying that's "the problem". I'm saying it's a reason not to use it, because in about 13 months it'll be useless to you anyway.
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Starver

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #8 on: April 30, 2011, 02:49:18 am »

I have a full copy that came with the computer and it says I have 400 something days left in my subscription, so I doubt that is the problem.

I'm not saying that's "the problem". I'm saying it's a reason not to use it, because in about 13 months it'll be useless to you anyway.

To support this, you wouldn't believe the number of laptops I've had to de-malware because the laptop is now just over 3 months/12 months/however-long old and its inbuilt McAfee/Symantec/Bullguard/whatever AV solution expired in the last week or so, but the owner ignored the pleas (pretty obvious and annoying ones[1]) to buy a licence and suddenly[2] found themselves with Problems of some kind or another.  (Not that I particularly like McAfee or Symantec, in the first place, but that's a historic dislike.  Reinforced by the fact that I have to remove their expired products nine times out of ten while in the process of fixing the system.)


Anyway, if you know you need to get the AV sorted out, probably no problem.  But (from an admittedly skewed sample of all the people who end up with problems) most people I have seen faced with an expiring anti-malware package just ignore it.


[1] OTOH, several have not ignored the similar pleas from the "Windows Malware Remover", or whatever the FakeAVOfTheDay proclaims itself to be, once it has gotten onto the system.  Sheesh.

[2] When I've been forensic about these things, usually the obviously original infective file in the TIF directory is dated just after the AV's expiration.
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Virex

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #9 on: April 30, 2011, 02:00:09 pm »

Note that it's not uncommon for normal AV software to be trial subscriptions either, so it's usually unwise to ignore important messages from your AV (nor is it a good idea to ignore messages from AV's you didn't install because that means you've got a nasty case of scambait)
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Zrk2

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #10 on: April 30, 2011, 03:59:58 pm »

Well, my AV is certainly not expired, and everything else seems to work ok, I just can't seem to connect to the internet.
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Sir Finkus

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #11 on: April 30, 2011, 04:03:18 pm »

open up a command prompt and run the following

Code: [Select]
ipconfig /all > ipconfig.txt
Then post the contents of ipconfig.txt (should be in c:/users/yourusername)

Zrk2

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #12 on: April 30, 2011, 04:21:17 pm »

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

If I use my recovery disks to restore to when I made them would that eliminate the problem?
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KaelGotDwarves

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #13 on: April 30, 2011, 04:26:41 pm »

Spoiler: Everything (click to show/hide)
Yeah so... Control panel and make sure it's all enabled? Check device manager properties of your wireless and ethernet. Of course nothing is going to work if the computer views it as not there.

Zrk2

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Re: Another Tech Support Thread
« Reply #14 on: May 01, 2011, 12:03:16 am »

Ah I had lost the connection when I ran that but even when I have the fucking ethernet cord plugged in and my connection display on the toolbar shows that I am connected to the ethernet cord I still cannot load anything, and Task Manager says I have 0% connection.
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