Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

HELP Programs cant acces the internet

by EternalDarkness Oct 28, 2004 12:03PM PDT

I just got this new computer and hooked up my broudband conection. Internet explorer can get onto the internet fine but my other programs like my online games can not. The say that they cant connect.

Can anyone tell me *** is the problem.

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Re: HELP Programs cant acces the internet
by MarkFlax Forum moderator Oct 28, 2004 8:42PM PDT

Eternal.

Do you have a firewall installed? What error messages do you get?

In your profile you have given no indication of what your system is, eg what make of computer, what Operating System you use, if it is Windows XP whether it has Service Pack 2 installed or not. So it would help if you gave more information about your configuration when you are posting questions., or update your profile.

From what little you have said I would suggest that this is a new computer direct from a computer shop or computer supplier, and so it has Windows XP installed with Service Pack 2, (SP2).

If that is the case, then SP2 automatically sets the XP firewall to "on", it is is likely that the firewall is preventing any programs other than IE from connecting to the internet.

Other than that, if you have a 3rd party firewall installed, eg Nortons System Works, or McAfee, they will need to be configured to accept other programs connecting to the internet.

Mark

- Collapse -
Re: HELP Programs cant acces the internet
by EternalDarkness Oct 29, 2004 3:01AM PDT

Ok this is a new hp media center computer and yes I think it's runing service pack 2.

This happens mostly with my online games when i tell them to conect they tell me that they cant an example is Unreal 2004 it tells me it cant reach the master server.

- Collapse -
Re: HELP Programs cant acces the internet
by EternalDarkness Oct 29, 2004 3:05AM PDT

Ok how do I turn off the norton firewall

- Collapse -
Re: HELP Programs cant acces the internet
by MarkFlax Forum moderator Oct 29, 2004 10:27AM PDT

Don't.

You SHOULD NOT turn off any firewall whenever your computer is connected to the internet. And if you have broadband, that is all the time the computer is switched on.

Howver, if you have Norton's Firewall, you "can" turn off Windows XP firewall. Open the Security Centre on your desktop and disable the Windows XP firewall.

You will have to configure Norton's firewall to accept your game program attempting to access the internet, and attempting to act as a server. You will have to check the Norton program itself to do that, but I would have thought that when the game program attempted to connect, Norton would bring up a warning message asking your permission, and you can just click ok then.


Mark

- Collapse -
Re: HELP Programs cant acces the internet
by EternalDarkness Oct 29, 2004 11:57AM PDT

I can shut of my broudband connection and how do you configure it.

- Collapse -
Re: HELP Programs cant acces the internet
by glb613 Oct 29, 2004 9:53PM PDT

If you want to disconnect the broadband, unplug it. Some firewalls, ZoneAlarm is one, has a feature to block all internet activity when idle for any length of time. Otherwise it is always on.

You need to do two things. First, find out which firewall you are using. Next, learn how to configure it. And no one can help you until we know which, if any, firewall you have running. Put your mouse cursor over each icon down by the clock. If you leave the cursor there for a couple of seconds, the name of the program appears. Post back with what you have running.

- Collapse -
Re: HELP Programs cant acces the internet
by MarkFlax Forum moderator Oct 29, 2004 11:16PM PDT

I believe Eternal said he has Norton's firewall.

But I agree, you really should learn how to use it yourself. if your computer came with Nortons already installed you should have a handbook or User Guide that came with all the documentation. If not, try Norton's Help files, eg open up Nortons, (double click the Nortons icon in the sys tray at the bottom right of the computer desktop near the time display, then in the Norton's window, click Help, and search for something like "Giving programs access rights" or something similar.

Or go here; http://www.unrealtournament.com/ut2004/
and check their forums for advice, or go here to read Norton's advice how to configure Norton's Firewall,

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/
nip.nsf/16c1d01d537bf4d188256d8e0076b346/a8d1432baff29a628825689c0073386e?OpenDocument&prod=
Norton%20Personal%20Firewall&ver=
2004%20for%20Windows%2098/Me/2000/XP&src=
sg&pcode=npf&svy=&csm=no

Note, because the link is so long, I have cut it into shorter bits. You will need to copy each bit, (eg into Notepad), and join them all up again to copy it into your browser.

Mark

Back to PC Applications forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info