The tech was telling you that they don't think any of the updates you
installed have anything to do with your problem, Mike.

Time to post in ZA Forums (or uninstall ZA Free, enable the Windows Firewall
& see if the behavior persists).


Mike wrote:
> Hi
> Thanks
>
> I got in touch with MS and went through all the hoops they put up and sent
> scans of my computer etc.
>
> And here is the helpful reply just in :-(
>
> Dear Mike,
>
>
>
> Thank you for your email about Microsoft® Windows® XP.
>
>
>
> I was concerned to know that after installing an update, cookies and
> allowed
> sites are removed from your computer.
>
>
>
> To help resolve your concern, I suggest that you go through the number of
> ways that you can obtain technical information and support from our team.
>
>
>
> A useful resource is the Knowledge Base on our website, where we have
> published a large collection of articles and Frequently Asked Questions
> (FAQs) about our products. You can access it by going to;
>
>
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1
>
>
>
> You can also go online and visit our Newsgroup to post your technical
> question at the following website, or alternatively chat with one of our
> Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs);
>
>
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/newsgroup/default.aspx
>
>
>
> If you do not find the answer that you are looking for or wish to discuss
> alternative support options please call our Customer Services team on 0870
> 60 10 100. Our lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding
> public holidays. These support options can also be viewed at;
>
>
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/gp/services
>
>
>
> Thank you for getting in touch.
>
>
>
> Kind regards,
>
>
>
> ANUPAMA UNNIKRISHNAN
> Customer Service Professional
>
> Microsoft Customer Services
>
> So unless I want to pay £46 I am back to square one!
>
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>>> The problem only came up around the time of the June MS updates.
>>
>> ZA running in the background when the June updates were installed may
>> have
>> caused the ensuing behavior, Mike.
>>
>> The fact that the changes you make to the Allowed/Disallowed Cookies list
>> also suggests that ZA, not any of the updates, is the responsible party
>> here (unless Tea Timer's not be disabled).
>>
>> If you feel that one or more of the updates you installed caused the
>> problem, you can...
>>
>> Start a free Windows Update support incident reques:
>> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...spx?gprid=6527
>>
>> For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY
>> in
>> the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
>> subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated
>> with
>> security updates. When you call, clearly state that your problem is
>> related to a Security Update and cite the update's KB number (e.g.,
>> KB969897).
>>
>> LOOK! => If your problem relates to a Cumulative Security Update for IE
>> (e.g., KB969897), call the above number and ask to be transferred to the
>> Consumer IE7 queue (which is 47830).
>>
>> For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary
>> for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web
>> site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx
>>
>> Good luck.
>>
>>
>> Mike wrote:
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> I really don't want to sound like I am disrespecting your advice but I
>>> feel
>>> one point I keep making is being over looked.
>>>
>>> For well over two years my system has been fine with all the
>>> applications
>>> running that I have now.
>>>
>>> Spybot, Zone Alarm, SPG and SPB all running without issue.
>>>
>>> The problem only came up around the time of the June MS updates.
>>>
>>> Also, I have disabled everything by booting with msconfig to switch off
>>> all
>>> non MS programmes.
>>> Sure ZA and Avira tried to carry on but I did stop them.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Mike
>>>
>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>>
>>>> No, it is not normal. Are absolutely, 100% positively sure that Tea
>>>> Timer's been disabled, Mike?
>>>>
>>>> One or more options/settings in an ever-growing number of third-party
>>>> applications may be disallowing all these changes from "sticking" after
>>>> closing IE or rebooting. These include anti-spyware applications (e.g.,
>>>> Ad-aware's Ad-Watch, Spybot **Tea Timer**, SpywareBlaster, SpySweeper,
>>>> Spyware Doctor, CounterSpy, WinPatrol, etc), anti-virus applications &
>>>> security suites (Norton, McAfee, ESET/NOD32, Kasperky, Trend Micro,
>>>> etc.),
>>>> and third-party firewalls (e.g., **Zone Alarm**, etc.).
>>>>
>>>> Note that temporarily disabling the application(s) or rebooting into
>>>> Safe
>>>> Mode may not disable the application's system protections.
>>>>
>>>> I still suspect ZoneAlarm (Free?) is the responsible party here. (Note
>>>> that simply disabling ZA temporarily will not disable it's "system
>>>> protections.") I'll give you two recommendations/options:
>>>>
>>>> #1 => Post about these unwanted behaviors in the appropriate ZA forum:
>>>> http://forums.zonelabs.com/zonelabs
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> #2 => Disable all ZA "system protections" and then uninstall ZA. Be
>>>> sure
>>>> to enable the Windows Firewall after doing so!
>>>>
>>>> Best of luck.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Mike wrote:
>>>>> I just noticed another weird thing!
>>>>>
>>>>> When you add a site to the priovacy tab 'always allow' option it
>>>>> appears
>>>>> at
>>>>> the bottom of the list of 'always block' however when you log out of
>>>>> IE
>>>>> and
>>>>> go back the allowed entery is missing!
>>>>>
>>>>> Is this normal?
>>>>>
>>>>> "Mike" wrote:
>>>>>> Yes the problem continues!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> But as I said above I have switched everything off using msconfig
>>>>>> apart
>>>>>> from MS services and still the problem continues.
>>>>>> But I have disabled tea timer and the IE add on for now despite
>>>>>> having
>>>>>> no
>>>>>> trouble for years with it, I guess a update to spybot could have
>>>>>> introduced
>>>>>> something.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Reposting:
>>>>>>>>> If you (1) disable Spybot Tea Timer & (2) reboot, (3) visit the
>>>>>>>>> sites
>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>> question & log-in, then (4) close the IE window without
>>>>>>>>> logging-out,
>>>>>>>>> (5)
>>>>>>>>> reboot, and (6) revisit the sites, does the behavior persist?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> HOW TO disable Tea Timer:
>>>>>>>>> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=32409
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> NB: If you don't fully understand what Tea Timer does and how it
>>>>>>>>> does
>>>>>>>>> it, leave it permanently disabled.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Mike wrote:
>>>>>>>> OK stopping ZA made no differance sadly :-(
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Having real trouble posting here as well now
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> You may prefer to access this newsgroup in your default newsreader
>>>>>>>>> (e.g., Outlook Express). Click this link:
>>>>>>>>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof...plorer.general
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> You were going to test this behavior after disabling ZA and then
>>>>>>>>> enabling the Windows Firewall. What effect, if any, did that
>>>>>>>>> have?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> If you (1) disable Spybot Tea Timer & (2) reboot, (3) visit the
>>>>>>>>> sites
>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>> question & log-in, then (4) close the IE window without
>>>>>>>>> logging-out,
>>>>>>>>> (5)
>>>>>>>>> reboot, and (6) revisit the sites, does the behavior persist?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> HOW TO disable Tea Timer:
>>>>>>>>> http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=32409
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> NB: If you don't fully understand what Tea Timer does and how it
>>>>>>>>> does
>>>>>>>>> it, leave it permanently disabled.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> My system has worked for years without issue the only common
>>>>>>>>>> change
>>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>>> can
>>>>>>>>>> think of is the June updates.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Sorry, I was under the impression that you were experiencing the
>>>>>>>>> unwanted behavior prior to installing the June Update and IE7.
>>>>>>>>> Try
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> above for now then we'll consider other options, Mike.
>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>>> ~PA Bear
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Mike wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> Having real trouble posting here as well now :-(
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Yes to all your questons.
>>>>>>>>>> I have taken all steps I can think of to isolate the cause
>>>>>>>>>> including
>>>>>>>>>> stoping
>>>>>>>>>> all services and start ups other than MS ones.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> My system has worked for years without issue the only common
>>>>>>>>>> changeI
>>>>>>>>>> can think of is the June updates.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I'll give it a few hours and see if my other full reply shows up!
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> Was on PC Q&A said IE6 was the problem.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I doubt it.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> OK re Norton, no Ghost is my main back up and this is why you
>>>>>>>>>>>> see
>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>> Norton stuff.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Nevertheless, there are some leftovers from Norton System Works
>>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>>> they
>>>>>>>>>>> may have something to do with your problems. Unfortunately, the
>>>>>>>>>>> only
>>>>>>>>>>> way
>>>>>>>>>>> to get rid of them would also remove Ghost.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I don't use the Nero thing at all.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Then why is it still installed & loading at boot?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Been running Avira for some time now, AVG prior to that.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> The Norton leftovers may have compromised the installs of both
>>>>>>>>>>> Avira
>>>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>>>> AVG.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> The problem occured when I was usinging IE6.
>>>>>>>>>>>> I installed IE7 after the June updates.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Then neither IE7 nor the June updates are causing your problems.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I have used spybot and its tea timer for many years now.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Again, do you understand what Tea Timer does and how it does it?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Did you disable (1) Tea Timer & SDHelper, (2) your anti-virus
>>>>>>>>>>> application,
>>>>>>>>>>> and (3) ZoneAlarm *and then* (4) enable the Windows Firewall
>>>>>>>>>>> before
>>>>>>>>>>> you installed WinXP SP3?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes I have put some of the sites into always allow.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Does that include yahoo.com, ebay.com, and all of your forums
>>>>>>>>>>> (e.g.,
>>>>>>>>>>> pcqanda.com)?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Mike wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> Was on PC Q&A said IE6 was the problem.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Its OK I quite like IE7
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> OK re Norton, no Ghost is my main back up and this is why you
>>>>>>>>>>>> see
>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>> Norton
>>>>>>>>>>>> stuff.
>>>>>>>>>>>> I don't use the Nero thing at all.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Been running Avira for some time now, AVG prior to that.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> The problem occured when I was usinging IE6.
>>>>>>>>>>>> I installed IE7 after the June updates.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I have used spybot and its tea timer for many years now.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Auto Complete, forms is the only unchecked box.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes I have put some of the sites into always allow.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I'll try the Zone alarm test and report back shortly.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> HI, I was using IE 6 but was told to go to IE 7 to solve
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> problem
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> but...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Who told you that, Mike?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Did you only recently install Avira AntiVir and had you been
>>>>>>>>>>>>> running
>>>>>>>>>>>>> without any anti-virus protection until then?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Your HijackThis log suggestes that you used to have a Norton
>>>>>>>>>>>>> application
>>>>>>>>>>>>> installed which included Norton Ghost and Norton AntiVirus
>>>>>>>>>>>>> (e.g.,
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Norton
>>>>>>>>>>>>> System Works) and that you attempted to remove NAV, leaving
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ghost
>>>>>>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>>>>>>> place.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Unfortunately, some NAV leftovers remain on your computer and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> these
>>>>>>>>>>>>> may
>>>>>>>>>>>>> be
>>>>>>>>>>>>> the culprit here.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Since you have Nero BackItUp installed, do you still need
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ghost?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> How long has Spybot been installed and Tea Timer enabled? Do
>>>>>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>>>>>>> understand what Tea Timer does and how it does it?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> When did you install IE7, before or after you installed the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> June
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2009 updates?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> IE Tools | Internet Options | Content | AutoComplete |
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Settings
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Use AutoComplete for: What options, if any, are
>>>>>>>>>>>>> checked/enabled
>>>>>>>>>>>>> here?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> IE Tools | Internet Options | Privacy | Sites: Are the sites
>>>>>>>>>>>>> giving
>>>>>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>>>>>>> problems (e.g., Yahoo, eBay) listed in Managed Sites box with
>>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> "Always
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Allow" annotation?