Fatal crash caused by GoBack and ZoneAlarm, can I re-install?

[DannyKewl]

Hi, I'm wondering if it's wise to re-install GoBack3 and Zone Alarm Personal
Free back on my system with Win XP Pro (no SP1 installed, I probably won't
install it). I had both programs on my machine for about 6 months, with
System Restore also enabled. I installed them about last December, and with
the GoBack3, I had to uninstall and re-install it twice as the machine was
getting hard to boot and GoBack3 claimed there were no points to go back to.
I have a registered version and supposedly the XP upgrade. After a few
attempts, it would finally boot. Also, seemingly, more often than not, when
powering my PC off, it would hang on closing ZoneAlarm, giving me the dialog
box if I want to end the program now. I believe this also happened with
GoBack 3 several times. Last July, all of a sudden I couldn't boot, GoBack3
wouldn't let me go back when pressing the space bar, it would just sit there
and freeze after trying to select a revert time with a dialog box with times
that never appeared. I couldn't boot into safe mode, same problem. I tried
choosing "last good configuration", it still wouldn't boot. After a attempt
to re-install Win XP Pro, it wouldn't let me. I finally got an option that
would let me format my hard disk, which I did, losing everything. I
re-installed XP Pro, and all my other crap from scratch. So far, so good
with no GoBack or ZoneAlarm, nothing at all hanging up when powering off. If
it wasn't one of those programs, there would always be something not
quitting when I tried to power off. I have DSL service via SBC/Yahoo, and
chose their checkbox for a firewall, where you set up the DSL connection. I
don't get any dialog boxes like ZoneAlarm asked if OK to run or allow
something. I got rid of all the Broadjump crapola. Any ideas or opinions if
GoBack3 was the culprit for all my problems, or was it ZoneAlarm, or maybe
both in tandem? Will the firewall option that comes with the DSL be OK or do
I need to try ZoneAlarm again? Am I just as well off not using GoBack? Will
an F8 "last known configuration" be just as good. If I do re-install these,
and I can't boot up again, what can I try beside reformatting and losing
everything. Thanks much,

DannyKewl

 

[noone]

You may need to edit for brevity.

 

[DannyKewl]

OK, I'll try again. I have XP Pro, but no service pack installed and may not
want to install the SP. Last December I installed the free version of Zone
Alarm, as well as paid for and installed GoBack 3 and it's XP update. I also
had System Restore enabled. I believe both GB3 and ZA were giving me
problems off and on. In July, I found I couldn't boot, using GoBack
(wouldn't present restore points), nor Safe Mode, nor Last Known Good
Configuration. I had to format the hard drive, re-install XP Pro, and all my
applications. Before the big crash, there were always programs not closing
right when powering off the PC. Many times it was ZoneAlarm or GoBack. My
questions are, do I really need GoBack. I didn't know about using Last Known
Good Configuration until the crash, where it was a presented option. Isn't
that just as good as GoBack? I have SBC/Yahoo DSL and I enabled their
firewall option, however I never get any alerts or dialog boxes asking me if
I want to allow something like I did in ZoneAlarm. So do I really need
ZoneAlarm if I already use the DSL firewall? If I should use GB3 and ZA how
can I avoid problems? What's my best option if I install them and can't boot
again? Hope this is a little clearer, as it's a complex issue. Thanks much,

DannyKewl