I hate to point out the obvious, but this is a Microsoft Windows XP
Security related newsgroup. You are not only not asking about
Windows XP (but Windows 2000) but you are also asking about a third
party product (Zone Alarm) that is not supported by Microsoft.
So the question has to be asked, what doe Zone Alarm support say? Or is
that the "Update to 7 or 8" answer you mention?
I see all of these forum posts:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Zone+Alarm+version+6.5+certificate
Specifically this one:
http://forums.zonelabs.com/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=Official&thread.id=9
As well as this KnowledgeBase entry:
http://server.iad.liveperson.net/hc...&sg=1&st=759383&documentid=366576&action=view"
Essentially - both state:
"As of 7/15/09 if your running any ZoneAlarm product version 6.5 or
Below.
You may recieve the following error message:
"Validation failed for C:\Windows\system32\VSINIT.dll. You probably
are missing a necessary root certificate."
This could be followed by the same message but for vsdata.dll.
Solution:
ZoneAlarm 6.5 or below can no longer function.
Uninstall your version of ZoneAlarm and if you have a valid genuine
ZoneAlarm licnese key in good standing you will need to upgrade and
download version 8.0.400.020
Note: Windows ME, 98, 98se and Windows 2000 are not supported in
version 8.0"
That sucks... but is ZoneLabs product to do with as they see fit.
More specific to you:
http://forums.zonealarm.com/zonelabs/board/message?board.id=Off-Topic&message.id=20410
In the end - it looks like the product support for that is gone.
Virtualize the old OS that you *need* because of other poorly
written hardware and/or find another way to protect it. ;-)