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2003 - 2004

Windows XP Shell / User

 

          Presents...         A Zone.com Helpsite

   Zone Access Solutions 

 

Rooms Flash But Don't Open using Windows XP

 

 +Techie_No1 discovered that this bug is due to corrupt registry entries.  I've made a patch you can use Instead of manually editing your registry: 

Click here to download the patch

and then Save the Patch to your desktop.  Double-Click the patch to clear the corrupt entries.  Use this solution until Zone.com fixes the bug.

You'll get 2 popups after double-clicking the patch:

  1. Click [Yes] when the Registry Editor asks you if you want to allow it to add the information;

  2. Click [OK] to confirm that the job has finished.

* A permanent solution would be to Uninstall the Network card in Control Panel / System / (Hardware) Device Manager.  Once you reboot, the card will be automatically reinstalled.  It's recommended to update the driver for your Network card from the manufacturers website.  You may need to call your ISP to create another Internet Connection shortcut.  In fact, your ISP should be able to walk you through all the steps discussed in this paragraph.

 

 

Do You Get a Specific Zone ERROR MESSAGE?

 

 

Do You get a FAILED TO DOWNLOAD Error?

 Click Here

 

 

TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS

 

1) If you've played on the Zone before, yet you just can't seem to get into any of the gaming rooms today, use Internet Explorer to connect to the Zone after CLEARING YOUR TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES and deleting lobby.exe from C:\Program Files\MSN Gaming Zone.

2) If you keep getting sent back to Sign In or Change your nickname use  these Internet Explorer Settings to connect to Zone.com: Click Here

 
3) It has been discovered that the use of Ad Blockers and Internet Accelerators, have hindered the ability to enter rooms and play games on the Zone.  Uninstall them, Reboot, Run Regcleaner, and Reboot.

  

 

FIREWALLS

 
 
 
 
4a) If you're using Zone Alarm, Norton's, McAfee and other firewalls that grant permissions to each program that accesses the internet, look in it's Program List and grant both  Internet and Server Access to the following files:  zclient.exe, zone.exe, zsetup.exe, and lobby.exe.  In the Pro version you'll also need to set the Ad Control to "Medium" and the Cookie Control to "Off".
 
4b) When Zone updates those files I just listed though, it confuses programs like Zone Alarm, and Norton's, because the version numbers change, and they think it's not the same file.  Therefore it won't let the file connect, and it won't ask you for permission to either, since a file with the same name (but different version number) is already on the list.  Solution:  Delete those files from the list and the firewall will ask you for permission.
 
4c) If your firewall has ad blocking or browser privacy features, disable them before trying to play.  These will prevent Zone from loading.
 
4d) If you're using Windows XP, did you Disable the WinXP Firewall?
 
4e) If you have a Cable/DSL Router did you Configure the Router?

 

 

PLEASE WAIT FOR PAGE TO DOWNLOAD

 
 
5) One method to resolve that error is to click STOP (the red x button) in your browser when it says "1 item remaining" in the bottom left corner.
 
 
Normally that will ignore the last advertisement and allow you to enter the game lobby.  If that doesn't work, click the REFRESH button a few times until you get a different advertisement that loads for you.  Also Try the suggestions at: http://tech.thedarktrumpet.com/zp.htm, and: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q223/7/60.asp.  
 
 
Search your hard drive for a file named HOSTS and rename it to OLDHOSTS.
 

 
6) Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to get to Task Manager. If "Lobby.exe" is listed there as "Not Responding" click on it, and then click "End Task".

 

 
7) Search your drive for any files named "hosts" and rename them to "hostsbackup".   In Internet Explorer, click on "Tools", "Internet Options", "Connection" Tab, "LAN Settings" button. Uncheck the option to use "Proxy Server" and/or "automatically detect settings"

 

Optimize Your Internet Explorer Settings

 

Note:  Zone.com will not function properly unless your time and date are correct.  Double-Click the Time & Date on your screen to change it.

Before you Begin:  Update to Internet Explorer 6 SP1  To verify your IE Version Click: Help / About... it will say "Update Versions SP1" if installed.

8)     Go to: Tools / Internet Options. At the General Tab,
        click the Delete Files... button to clear the Temp Internet Files.
        On the Delete Files pop up box,  put a checkmark & click OK.
 
8A)  Click the Delete Cookies... button & Click OK in the popup box

8B)  Click the Settings... button and make sure that
        Every Visit to the Page is checked, and click OK.

8C)  Click the Security Tab then click on Trusted Sites,
        Click the Default Level button, Click the Sites... button, 
        • Uncheck the Require server verification (https:) choice,        
        • Type: msn.com click Add, 
        • Type: passport.net click Add,
        • Type: skilljam.com click Add, (for Play For Cash games)
        • Type: passport.com click Add, and then click OK. 
 
8D)  Click on the Privacy Tab then the Edit.. button,
        • Type: passport.com in the box and click Allow,
        • Type: passport.net in the box and click Allow,
        • Type: skilljam.com click Add, (for Play For Cash games)
        • Type msn.com in the box and click Allow and Click OK.
 
8E)  Click on the Connection Tab, then click Settings... 
        • Uncheck  Automatically detect settings and Click OK;
        • Click on  the LAN Settings... button
        • Uncheck the choice to  Automatically detect settings, Click OK.
 
8F)  Click on the Advanced tab.  Under Browsing: 
       • Check: Disable script debugging, and 
       • Uncheck: Display a Notification about every script error.
 
        Scroll about half way down:
        • Just above HTTP 1.1 settings select passive FTP;  
        • In HTTP 1.1 only HTTP 1.1 should be checked;
 
        Scroll to the very bottom:  Uncheck the option to:
         Warn if changing between secure and non secure mode.
         Click APPLY and then click OK to close the Options.
 

 

A O L  USERS

 

9)  If you are using an Internet Service Provider similar to AOL which is  a proxy server providing access through modified browsers, try either accessing the Zone directly using Internet Explorer by minimizing the AOL browser, or call your ISPs Technical Support Hotline.  They can provide you with the proper settings needed.

 

HOW TO SOLVE ZONE GAME PROBLEMS

 

 
 
10)  If you have a corrupted version of a free Zone game (Hearts, Chess, Checkers, Cribbage, or Backgammon) you may experience an error or just a hangup while trying to enter a game  Lobby. 

To resolve that goto C:\Program Files\MSN Gaming Zone Folder and  Delete Zone.Zat, lobbyres.dll, and lobby.exe as well as spades.dll, and the spades folder. (For Chess, delete chess.dll and the chess folder, etc.)

Using Start/Find and searching for the above will sometimes turn up 2 copies of the same file/folder.  If that is the case, delete both copies, and return to the spades lobby to download new files and correct the error.

 

 HOW TO PROPERLY RE-INSTALL THE ZONE

 

 
     Above is the default location.  If not found use Start / Search (Find).
 
B) Follow these instructions to:  Uninstall the Zone Software
 
C) Delete the  C:\Program Files\MSN Gaming Zone folder. WinXP users
     will get an "in use" error.  This is Normal and they may skip this step.

D) Follow these instructions to  Remove Heartbeat and Conflict Folders

 
E) Delete all files inside your temporary folder:
     For Win 95/98/Me goto C:\Windows\Temp
     For Win2000/XP there are 2 possible temporary folders:
     C:\Documents and Settings\"your user name"\Local Settings\Temp
                                                and possibly
            C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Local Settings\Temp
 
 
G) Empty your Recycle Bin and REBOOT your computer
 
H) Close all programs:
      Right click and exit all the program icons near  your computer clock.
      Press  CTRL+ALT+DEL to get to "Task Manager", click on  and
     "END TASK" each Task in that list except: Explorer and Systray.
 
I ) Goto this link and Re-Install Zone Software.
 
J) Copy the FAVORITES folder you backed up into the newly created
     C:\Program Files\MSN Gaming Zone\  Folder.
 
K) Goto the Zone, Sign In, then Click "Support" and "Install".
 

  


Norton's Internet Security 2002

WEB PAGE Errors & PRIVACY Settings

 
If you experience white blank pages after installing or uninstalling a Symantec product, open Internet Explorer and click on Tools / Internet Options / Click on the Advanced tab / Scroll halfway down / In the  HTTP 1.1 section both HTTP 1.1 choices should be UNchecked.

Ad Blocking and Browser Privacy must be disabled.

You can see the settings below in this +ACTI0N Video CLIP  and also read Norton's own Article titled "Cannot log on to zone.com" or use the settings that I've posted below for Norton's 2002 versions.

Norton's Personal Firewall Internet Security 2002

  1. Open NIS or NPF.
  2. Click Personal Firewall / NIS
  3. Click Privacy Options
  4. Click Custom Level
  5. In the Cookie Blocking drop down menu Select None: Allow Cookies 
  6. In the Java Applet drop down menu Select          None: Allow Java Applets
  7. In the ActiveX Controls drop down menu Select None: Allow ActiveX Controls
  8. In the Internet Access Control section choose the "Permit All" choice under the "Internet Access" heading for the following programs:  Direct Play, Direct Play Server, Zone Lobby, Zone Setup, and Zone Client.

Norton's has previously suggested the following settings:

1. Open NIS or NPF.
2. Click Personal Firewall.
3. Click Internet Access Control.
4. Click Configure.
5. Choose System-Wide Settings.
6. Scroll down to find "Block access to secure sites."
7. Remove the checkmark by clicking on the box.
8. Click OK.
9. Open your browser and try to connect again.

To ensure you can connect to a secure site:
    1. Open NIS or NPF.
    2. Click Privacy Control.
    3. Click Custom Level.
    4. Ensure the option "Enable Secure Connection" is checked.
    5. Click OK.
    6. Close your browser.
    7. Open your browser and try to connect again.
To check your confidential information protection:
    1. Open NIS or NPF.
    2. Click Privacy Control.
    3. Click Custom Level.
    4. Examine the setting for Confidential Information. If it is set to High, change the setting to Medium.
    5. Click OK.
    6. Return to the secure site and try to log on again. If you are prompted to allow Confidential information to go out, click OK.
    7. If you are able to log in, you know that Confidential information blocking was preventing the login. Leave the Confidential Information setting in Privacy at Prompt.

 

The solutions below don't apply after you've updated:

 
Another problem is simply that the Zone's web pages include instructions for the Zone Gaming software to start up the chat lobby when you click on one of the rooms you want to enter. 
 
Norton's notices that activity and stops it.  This would be excellent if the software also had a setting for you to always ALLOW the Zone web pages to launch the chat lobbies since you know that it's safe to do so.

A Quick Solution is to Right Click the Norton's icon (next to your computer clock) select Disable, and then enter the room.  Once in the room, Right Click the Nortons icon again, and select Enable.

 
Another method is to change the beginning of the Address (URL) from HTTP to HTTPS://zone.msn.com/spades, click Go and enter the rooms.
 
So if the Address (URL) is: http://zone.msn.com/spades change it to
httpS://zone.msn.com/spades and then click GO to load the page.
Now you'll be able to enter any of the Spades lobbies without Errors.
TIP: Add httpS://zone.msn.com/spades to your favorites for next time.
 
At times you may still have to "Disable" the firewall to launch certain games, such as Direct X based games, or Zone Euchre.  You can press "Alt+Tab" to see your desktop and re-Enable the firewall once you've entered the game lobby, or launched the game as the case may be.

 

COMMON PROBLEMS / ERROR MESSAGES 

 

 

 

 FAILED TO DOWNLOAD ERROR

 

If you get the error Failed to Download <FileName> , or the error Your computer is trying to update your Zone files, but is receiving old stored files from your ISP try the solutions in those links, or Install Full Zone Setup. More advanced users can dowload the files directly using this method:

The message includes the filename which would end in either EX_, ZR_, DL_, or ZA_.  The underscore indicates that the file is compressed.  Your ISP isn't downloading the new copy of that file, they are sending you a copy they saved on their own servers.

What we will do is download the uncompressed copy of the file directly from Zone.  If the filename was CLIENT.EX_ paste the following link into Internet Explorer: http://fdl.msn.com/zone/datafiles/CLIENT.EXE  <= Notice we changed .EX_ to .EXE   The other common extensions are ZRS, DLL, & ZAT.  

If the name of the file is: retail.zat, core.zat, cardboard.zat, or premium.zat save it to the MSN Gaming Zone\ZSetup folder.  Most other files should just be saved to the MSN Gaming Zone folder. 

The exception is when you're entering a game lobby, let's say Spades and you fail to download spadesres.dll.  This file would need to be saved into your Spades folder.  Cribbage has a sounds.dll that needs to be saved in the Cribbage folder;  Heartsres.dll into Hearts folder, Bridgedat.dll into Bridge folder, checkersres.dll into Checkers folder, etc.

 

(C)opywrite 2003 +NibblesNbits.  Last Updated on Oct 23rd, 2003 at 10:27pm Note: This site is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.