Can' connect with other relatives using Windows Messenger

[Guest]

Up until about 3 weeks ago, I was able to estalish video and voice
conversations with my parents in FL and my brother in NJ. I am in Colorado.
We all are using XP and Windows Messenger. I was using XP Pro SP1 and
Windows Messenger 4.7.2009, my brother was using XP Home SP2 with Windows
Messenger 4.7.300, and my parents were using XP Home with No SP and Windows
Messenger 4.7.2009.

About two weeks ago, when the .NET Messenger Service started having
problems, I could not connect with either one. I would get messages like
"the network or the computer you are connecting with are experiencing
problems" or "The voice and video conversation with "x" has ended". So I
upraded to SP2 with Windows Messenger 4.7.300. That solved the problems
communicating with my parents, but I still can't connect to my brother (who
is also using SP2 with 4.7.300). My brother has no problem connecting with
my parents.

This seems like a .NET Messenger Service problem. Is it? What do I do?


Thanks

 

[Alan White]

Sounds like a firewall problem. XP SP2 automatically activates the
firewall. See that there's an exception for Messenger and that "don't allow
exceptions" is NOT checked off.

 

[Guest]

Alan,

I checked and my settings are correct. I even disabled the firewall a few
times and that didn't solve the problem. I don't know what my brother's
firewall exception settings are, but he has no problem connecting to my
parents.

Thanks
Mark

 

[Alan White]

Still think it's firewall. Anybody running a router or a software firewall
(zonealarm or?)?
Are you sure the "don't allow exceptions ....." is NOT checked off on all
machines.

 

[Guest]

Alan,

My brother has had a Linksys wireless router for about 9 months and that
hasn't been a problem before. Until this evening he also had his SP2
firewall enabled. I had him disable it, since the router provides basic
firewall functionality. The problem persisted anyway however. I rechecked
my own settings and the UPNP framework and Windows Messenger are both
excepted and the Don't allow exceptions box is not checked. I don't know
where else to look. He is able to video conference with my parents without
problems.

Thanks
Mark