I have XP Pro, Avast 4.7, Spybot, and Zone alarm pro firewall. I have not seen my firewall update in a very long time. When I try to update it manually the program seems to lockup. I open task manager and it shows "Zone Alarm Pro NOT RESPONDING". Task manager does not end the task. I end up holding the power button down to reboot. I am not sure how to trouble shoot this.

Your help would be very much appreciated.

Edit: After update attempt and firewall locks up I am unable to open anything except task manager.

What version of ZA Pro firewall? Are you using a dialup accelerator when trying to update? if so try disabling the accelerator and updating.

I am using Z.A. Pro version 7.0.3337.000
I have no idea what a dialer accelerator is.
My internet connection is broadband (comcast) and I am using Firefox as my browser.
The firewall is set for automatic updates but it never seems to update.
Any thoughts?

7.0.337.000 is an older version.
I'm assuming you are current on your paid subscription - yes? in order to be able to get the ZAPro updates.
The dialup accelerator applies only to dialup users not broadband.
Have you tried manually downloading updates using internet explorer rather than firefox? There seems to be a number of problems downloading za with firefox.

I just tried to use manual update via IE7 but I am encountering problems with IE "not responding". Perhaps my firewall update is a symptom of something more serious.

What error message are you getting?

I am not actually seeing an error with IE but when I try to use it, it becomes "unresponsive" not allowing me to browse. I have to shut it down with task manager to regain control. I have paid in full for 2 years of updates (have about 420 days left) for Zone Alarm PRO. I am getting to the point where I may reinstall the os and other software (major PITA!) but I still want to know where/how the issue started.

There is a way to fix the update problems, unfortunately I don't recall how. There's some catalog file that can be removed.

You could also try resetting the database, it might help - this is a new procedure for version 7, provided by tech support
1.) Hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys together
2.) Right click on the ZA icon near your clock
3.) Choose 'Reset' from the box that comes up
4.) Choose Yes on the Reset Settings dialog box
5.) When prompted, choose OK to restart your system
6.) Follow the on screen configuration prompts after reboot

Please do not stop ZA using Task manager. Use the icon - right click on it, unless it's so messed up that it won't respond.

You may have a flawed installation, and this version should be updated anyway to 7.0.462.000.
To fix that problem, please do a clean uninstall and then reinstall.
Some recently written instructions are here, follow them exactly, every step of the way
http://forums.zonealarm.com/zonelabs/board...essage.id=74023

Make sure in Spybot S&D you disable TeaTimer. ZAPro gives you protection over and beyond TeaTimer and two of them don't play well together.

Raker,

You indicated IE is unresponsive - is this for all browsing or just when you try to update? In other words, do you have a browser problem as well as the firewall not updating?

Also, I'm not clear on an answer about your ZAPro subscription being valid? Check the expiration date on the ZAPro firewall screen? what does it say? If your subscription is out of date you'll go nowhere trying to update.

There have been issues reported about updating problems with your version of ZAPro - read through the zone alarm forum for details. On the zone alarm release histroy I believe this is an issue "fixed/addressed" in the latest release. The usual advice there is to upgrade - BUT be aware some people have no issues with the latest versions - others, well it's not problem free - again, look at the forum to gauge where you might fit in. Also, you indicate you are running SPYBOT, again, zone alarm and the teatimer in spybot are not compatible for most users - so if you have that running that could be an issue too. Another idea on the updating would be to turn off spybot (you're covered with the za antispyware in ZAPro and try updating - what happens?

Lastly, if you're having a number of different problems - when is the last time you ran some online scanners or even SUPERantispyware?

tork