Of course, trying MSN Messenger with ZoneAlarm, and trying NetMeeting with
ZoneAlarm, will not solve the problem with Windows Messenger and ZoneAlarm,
but it at least they are Windows alternatives to the Win Messenger problem.
Also try adding a site in ZoneAlarm to allow outbound communication to
E450.voice.microsoft.com
per instructions in the following Knowledge Base page at Microsoft
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;320783
This has not solved the problem for me, however.
When you click on Firewall in ZoneAlarm, you can see the explanation of the
settings for High and for Medium. When you choose Medium, the explanation
says other computers on the internet "can see your computer and share your
computer resources". When you choose High, the explanation says "Stealth
Mode. Your computer is hidden and protected from hackers". High is clearly
the safest choice.
As for Ask vs. Allow permission under Program Control, that is also up to
each individual's choice between (a) noiceless operation (Allow permission)
and less inhibited access into and out of their PC, versus (b) more pop-up
warnings (Ask permission) and more restricted access into and out of your
PC. Those who choose the noiseless operation (Allow permission) would Not
know when a worm runs Explorer in order to call home to it's hacker. Those
who choose the more restricted access (Ask permission) would always know
when a program tries to access the internet.
Windows Messenger appears in ZoneAlarm as simply "Messenger". None of this
has anything to do with allowing or preventing sound when using Windows
Messenger and ZoneAlarm. I was only addressing the danger of making your PC
vulnerable to infection and hackers, by changing from Stealth to Visible
mode of operation.
Like you, I also cannot figure out why voice does not work in Win Messenger
with ZoneAlarm. The only advice I've received has been dangerous advice,
such as shut down your firewall program, or try surfing the wild wild web
while logged in using Administrator privileges, all of which I refuse to try
because it's suicidal. But I would like to keep trying to find a solution,
since nobody knows the solution, and there must be many others like us who
want to know.
Keeping in mind I have never gotten anything to work, here are some ideas I
have not tried yet.
(1) shut down Internet Connection Firewall if you have it turned on;
(2) try using voice with MSN Messenger and ZoneAlarm;
(3) try using voice with NetMeeting and ZoneAlarm ( Start >> Run >> Conf ).
Please just let me know which of these work, and which do not. Thanks.
Almost forgot to mention, I know for a fact that voice works with Dialer and
ZoneAlarm.
( Start >> Run >> Dialer
and enter the target IP address. )
Jonathan
I'm a little confused. First of all, I found out that I'm already in Medium
setting. Sound like you think I should push it to High.
As for the Program control, Messenger is set for Allow for Access and
Server.
Currently, MSN Messenger (not sure what the difference is!) is set for Allow
for Access and prompt for Server.
In any case, it would seem to me that this shouldn't be preventing sound on
Messenger, from my read of your explanation. So what's up with this?
Thanks so much!
