MindALot

Join Date 03/2003

[suggestion] Help us zone-alarm users avoid start up lock-ups

(windows XP, using zone-alarm as firewall - not sure how other software firewalls work)

Every time a new patch comes out, I have to do the following.

Hunt down the elemental .ini file

Change the mode to windowed. Launch the game - after adjusting the firewall program, change back to full screen mode.

If I fail to do this after a patch, the game blocks waiting for zone-alarm, and for some reason I cannot alt-tab - forcing me to reboot the pc, and then do the above steps.

There are at least two possible solutions for this that would make life for those of us using zone-alarm much easier.

1) always use windowed mode the first time Elemental (or any game) attempts to make a new type of network connection (sending or listening port). Then switch the user defined screen mode.

2) Give us an option (I'm sure not everyone would want this) to auto-change the screen mode to windowed whenever a patch is applied - we can change it back to full screen after we have things configured.

I'm sure there are an infinate of other ways to solve this - but I really hope you do something about it - and if/when you do change it - let us know so we can stop manually editing the .ini file.

Thanks !

For those of you who do not understand this feature of zone-alarm - ZoneAlarm checks that the executable that you have previously granted access to the internet has not changed - if it does change, you have to re-approve the application. I find this a very nice feature to help avoid un-wanted network traffic from corrupted(hacked) programs. The only drawback is that it blocks (instead of refuses) the connection - so if you are unable to 'accept' the change, your program, and most likely your pc, is stuck.

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joasoze

Join Date 02/2006

+39

I got this too. Very annoying!

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It's not possible for you to add Elemental to an ignore list for the program?

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Or before you start a new version of Elemental you could right click ZA in the taskbar and bring up the "Game mode" option and select to allow all notices, then turn it off after playing and not have to active this mode until a new patch.

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joasoze

Join Date 02/2006

+39

Quoting Xeno_88,

reply 3

I ran ZA and had no problems. If it doesn't pop up on top of the current program just use Windows key -> L -> enter or Windows key + L to get to the login screen, log back in, and then it should definitely be on top as you should be viewing your desktop.

Or before you start a new version of Elemental you could right click ZA in the taskbar and bring up the "Game mode" option and select to allow all notices, then turn it off after playing and not have to active this mode until a new patch.

Your last suggestion have merit. I will try that. Your first will not work as no Windows key or any other key will be functional.

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It's not possible for you to add Elemental to an ignore list for the program?

Not sure about ZA, but that sort of software tends to only honor an "ignore list" setting for that particular version of the executable. If something changes the .exe (like a patch), it decides you need to re-ignore it because some virus might have re-written the exe to do something nasty.

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Quoting joasoze,

reply 4

Your last suggestion have merit. I will try that. Your first will not work as no Windows key or any other key will be functional.

That's odd. I haven't had to do it recently, but will try the next time a new build releases or I install something new. I have always been able to logout which minimizes everything, it should be possible as ZA is just waiting for you to make a decision and the program is waiting for access or not, hasn't caused my system to completely lock up like that :?

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joasoze

Join Date 02/2006

+39

I have tried things like

Windos button - D (minimize all windows)

Ctr - Alt - Delete

Alt - Tab

And many more. It does nothn

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Quoting Xeno_88,

reply 6

Quoting joasoze, reply 4
Your last suggestion have merit. I will try that. Your first will not work as no Windows key or any other key will be functional.
That's odd. I haven't had to do it recently, but will try the next time a new build releases or I install something new. I have always been able to logout which minimizes everything, it should be possible as ZA is just waiting for you to make a decision and the program is waiting for access or not, hasn't caused my system to completely lock up like that :?

It seems the behavior of Zone-Alarm is different for me than you. For me, if a game is in full screen, and then gets 'blocked' by zonealarm, while zone-alarm is waiting for the input - it seems to completely lock the computer, can't alt-tab, or do anything else. It may be because it is blocked in the network driver code.

I really do not like the idea of 'game mode' - as I lose some of the protection offered by Zone-Alarm by using it. Although, I guess I could deny all requests, and see if I can accept them later.

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The best alternative is to use a good firewall. I use Comodo as that firewall has everything but it's quite advanced so dumb people shouldn't use it.

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Elemental currently goes out and grabs data files, which is why it's trying to access the Internet and is tripping ZoneAlarm. Definitely consider putting an app exception rule.

Stardock - What port is it using? HTTP or FTP, by any chance?

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