I seem to just be chock full of computer problems, don't I? I'm such a vexation sometimes. But anyway, here's yet another computer trouble, courtesy of LinZ: Basically, I have done everything possible to turn off my firewall...when I check my firewall settings, it says that the firewall is off and that all the exceptions to the firewall I can make, I have made. There should be NO firewall working for me now because I've disabled it in order to download music and try to receive files via AIM. But apparently, my firewall is finding some new way to stay on, because I cannot receive files through AIM anymore - the error message I receive specifically says that my firewall prevents me from establishing a connection. I've been trying to figure this one out for over a month - I don't see how my firewall can be on when I've turned it off. Any thoughts on this? I feel like such an idiot asking these stupid questions. Become one with your computer.

Oh NO, LinZ is back. We are in trouble now. I mostly offer links, you would have to figure out things for yourself. That is the fun of computing. Description of a Personal Firewall Description of the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall HOW TO: Enable or Disable Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;283673&Product=winxp You do not say, but I presume you have SP2-- Understanding Windows Firewall(SP2) http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wfsettings.mspx

Yesterday, I found this article in trying to help someone else-- How to determine which program uses or blocks specific transmission control protocol ports in Windows http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;281336 I am not sure if that has anything to do with any problem you have.

What firewall are you running? Do you mean the Windows XP built-in firewall, or a third party software? Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!

It's the Windows XP firewall...it's been off for quite some time, and I have every box checked in the exceptions list anyway. I thought I could not direct connect to share files because of my firewall, but I had to enable something called UPNP and it worked for a while, but noe even with that enabled, I cannot send or receive files from anywhere, be it over instant messenger or something like LimeWire. Sorry if I wasn't too specific... Become one with your computer.

Okay I tinkered with a few things a couple days ago and things seem to be working well now. I'm not even sure what I did, but it still worked. Thanks for all your help, guys. I appreciate everyone's feedback. Become one with your computer.