I use @home cable. If I don't turn my zone alarm ON, I can't connect to the internet. I even tried my dial up connection, and it doesn't work either. This is the whole reason I didn't uninstall za in the past because this happened before. I want to get rid of it, but can't. Any help? thanks in advance (also, if I turn on za and then turn it back off, I'm ok...but don't want it turning on in the first place for my online gaming).

For your online gaming, why don't you just go to the Security tab in ZoneAlarm and just pull down both of the setting so there would be least security. This way, it would act just as if you had turned it off but it would still manage what connects to the internet or not. Trust me, this works. Before, it would block anyone who would try to connect to my game or FTP servers, but when I set it to the lowest settings, all requests got through.

I wouldn't advise lowering your shields while playing games because this is a likely time when your ports will get attacked. Won't it work if you turn on the lock and allow your gaming software to pass the lock? This is what I do for some games (everything, actually) and it works fine. Can't see the point of having firewall protection if you're going to turn it off!

If you dont want the fire wall run at starup deselect it from the start up tab in msconfig if you want to shut it down manually right mouse the icon in the tray and select exit. I agree with "ZA User" Keep zone alarm and enable the passlock feature for your game server. Also ensure that the timeout lock isnt in the lock position, this happens if your system is dormant for the set period that you selected under the lock tab, even if you arent connected to the net the lock timer still runs so when the program tries to connect to the net and the lock is depressed it will say cant connect etc etc... It is a common problem to forget that the red knob might be in the lock position I would bet a million dollars this is why you get the cant connect message and why it works when you turn it off and back on because the lock timer gets reset when you do this. ZA Rulz if you know how to use it properly, next time read the instructions. Dah

One of the features of the 2.6 release is to disallow access to the net if ZA is not running. This is done so that a Trojan can not shutdown ZA and then get to the net. The only way to NOT have ZA running and still access the net, is to uninstall it. I agree with the posts above, why do you want to disable it anyway. It should not be affecting your gaming in any way.

Thanks everyone for the input; however, WhitPhil, I've uninstalled za through my control panel...when I do, I don't have any connection to the internet. The only way (after a day of messing with it) of getting back on line was to to go to my recycle bin and restore za. I also checked the timeout lock; it's off. I think I'm missing some type of file that za uses, and that's why I can't get online until it loads. As far as gaming, I've been told it's not a big deal to have it off (I know that sounds ridiciouls, but...), but it slows my game down; however, I'll leave it on, and configure it to allow my game port to be open. But if I did want to get rid of za (which, actually I like it a lot), I can't. Anyway, thanks for all the input. I do appreciate it. :P

I had the same problem of not being able to get on the internet after uninstalling ZA 2.6. I had so much trouble with it, FE's, crashes, etc., I had to remove it. The first time I uninstalled it, I used the program uninstaller. I could not get on the internet. So, fortunanely, I had the download of it still in my download folder and reinstalled it so that I could get on the internet. The second time I uninstalled it, I used all the information at the ZA website and removed ALL the files that the uninstaller does not remove. I also removed all the registry entries. As I remember, the uninstaller removed only about 1/3 of the files. I held my breath as my modem dialed up. I was on the internet and all was well. I reinstalled the former ZA version. I hope this helps you figure it out.