PC help: Zone Alarm blocking

Q Since installing the free version of the Zone Alarm firewall software, I have been unable to access any of the shared folders or printers on my home network. I am sure this is due to Zone Alarm, because if I shut it down, the folders are fine.
Elizabeth Jacks

A The default settings for Zone Alarm are fine for browsing the web directly, but need changing if there are other computers on the network.

Zone Alarm recognises two zones for network access - the Internet Zone and the Trusted Zone. To be on the safe side, Zone Alarm does not set up a Trusted Zone, but this is easy to do.

Right-click on the small Zone Alarm icon in the Notification Area. It looks like the letter Z and changes to a red and green graph when there is communication over the network. A menu will appear; now click on the Restore Zone Alarm Control Center option.

Left-click on the Firewall option at the left of the screen. There are two sliders to set the security level for the Internet Zone and the Trusted Zone. The Medium setting is fine for most users, but the Zone still needs to be defined.

Click on the Zone tab at the top right of the window and then on the Add> > button at the bottom. Select IP range. Make sure that the Zone is set to Trusted, then enter the first and last IP address of your network. For most routers, this will be 192.168.1.0 to 192.168.1.254. Some routers, such as those made by Belkin, use a different range, such as 192.168.2.0 to 192.168.2.254. If you are unsure, you can look at the IP address for the network card in this window.

Enter a description such as Home Network and then click on the OK button. Finally, click on the Apply button to save the changes. The Zone Alarm window can now be closed and the network folders and printers will be accessible.