I have recently updated zone alarm pro and after the update i get a message in the control panel saying that there is a system error and i must reboot, after rebooting i still get the same message in zone alarms control panel, and the truevector service is shut down, how can i fix this if at all, and while truevector is shutdown are hackers able to access my computer?

Hey, can you go into services and make sure that the Truevector service is set to start automatically with the system.

yep it's set to automatic

I have just disbaled zone alarm and tried enabling the windows firewall but that won't even start either, so this makes me think that the problem goes deeper than zone alarm

Even good firewalls can have a corrupted file on install...

I would try un-reinstalling Zone Alarm first. Some of their upgrade files say "clean install recommended" right in the file download box. I had a similar incident once-- when I was in too much of a hurry to do the full install thing. A firewall goes very "deep" in your Operating System's files-- it has to-- to do it's job well. This can interfere with any number of things if something does not install just right.

My 2 cents worth...

Indeed so, this kind of problem can normally be resolved with a clean reinstallation.

IMPORTANT - If you have a Cisco VPN client installed, you must first uninstall the VPN client, then follow the instructions below, and reinstall the Cisco VPN client again afterwards. This procedure will remove all traces of the TrueVector service, which was incorporated by Cisco into their VPN software.

• If you wish to keep your settings, create a Backup from Overview - > Preferences before starting, and then Restore afterwards (available in ZoneAlarm Premium products only).
• Click on Start -> Programs -> Zone Labs
• RIGHT-click on Uninstall Zone Labs Security, then select Properties
• Under Target you will see the following line (the actual drive may be different on your system):

"C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zauninstexe"

• Change it to:

"C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zauninst.exe" /clean (add a space and then the /clean)

• Click OK to save the new command line.
• Click on Start -> Programs -> Zone Labs -> Uninstall Zone Labs Security
• Click OK to run the uninstaller, and OK any security alerts that pop up.
• say "Yes when being prompted for the removal of all files and allow TrueVector to shut down.
• Reboot
• After rebooting, check for the following folders, and delete them if you find them:

"Internet Logs"
"Zone Labs" (under your Program Files folder)
"Zonelabs" (under your Windows System32 folder)

• Empty your recycle bin
• Reboot
• Reinstall ZoneAlarm again, by downloading a new installer.