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Zone Alarm Install and Uninstall Problem

Here's a handy reference and the only sort out I've found for Zone Alarm hanging up on installs, typically with an error message that vsinit.dll can't be validated, the install also typically hangs a long time at 2% or 14% installed, then provides the error message. Oddly, a user is then told that the computer needs to be restarted to 'complete the installation'. After restart, Zone Alarm has not actually been installed. A user will then typically try to uninstall Zone Alarm and try again to install it, only to encounter the same problem. Running a registry cleaner to clean up after the uninstall doesn't solve the issue. I've also seen this happen on an update to a new version. I've only seen one handling that works:

Reference: Zone Labs Customer Care.

Succinctly stated as follows (for Windows XP):

1 Uninstall Zone Alarm
2 Delete the 'Zone Labs' folder from the Program Files folder
3 Go to C:/Windows folder and delete the 'Internet Logs' folder
4 Go to C:/Windows/system32 folder and delete the 'Zone Labs' folder
5 Also in the system32 folder delete Vsdatant.sys , VSUtil.dll , and VSInit.dll

The reference noted also indicates updating the Root Certificates, however I have not found this to be necessary to a resolution in every case - Microsoft updates Root Certificates as part of the Microsoft Root Certificate Program which occurs in a Windows update.

Since the problem has occurred on systems where the Root Certificates were up to date, I suspect the cause of the problem can also be corrupt code in one of the above noted files and folders, these files and folders are not removed in a standard uninstall. Anyway, the proof is in the workability, it works.

After proceeding as above all previous Zone Alarm settings are gone, install newly with a 'Clean Install' and you're all set. Good luck and good computing.