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

Internet connects using only certain programs

Feb 20, 2007 9:26AM PST

I am helping my friend with her internet connection on a Toshiba Satellite m25x-s114. We live in a college dorm with a local area connection, using specific TCP/IP settings given to us by the college. The numbers have been checked and double checked, if they were incorrect, no internet access would be granted at all. The computer is able to access the internet using Firefox and Internet Explorer, but not using iTunes, Napster, AIM, or MSN messenger. On iTunes, music libraries from other students in our dorm are displayed like normal and she can listen to their songs. The network adapter is a RealTek RTL8139. I tried to update the driver, no luck. I also tried repairing the local area connection, no luck either. I am very confused why she would be able to access the internet via web browsers, but not other programs.

Thanks!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Actually a known issue.
Feb 20, 2007 9:48AM PST

Some colleges block ports or only allow web and email ports to save the network from being used for those other applications.

Bob

- Collapse -
..
Feb 20, 2007 1:13PM PST

I live in the same dorm as her and I am able to use the internet for everything on my computer... I don't know anyone else in the dorm with this problem

- Collapse -
Then the next common reason is the user's firewall.
Feb 20, 2007 7:39PM PST

I just looked at one where they had set it to block but not popup and ask.

Bob

- Collapse -
Opposite Problem
Feb 26, 2007 9:59AM PST

I seem to be having exactly the opposite problem. I'm in a college dorm with a Toshiba notebook but I can't access the internet through Firefox or Internet Explorer, I can use AIM, Thunderbird etc. though. What should I do?