Can't log into any ftp server

[sm82578]

I have a Dell that was purchased in 2005 and came with Windows XP. I'm
trying to update my personal website, but cannot log into any ftp server. I
have tried this through Command Prompt, through "Leech FTP", and through
Internet Explorer. My internet connection is absolutely fine.

Is this because of a problem with Windows? "Recovery Install" has been
recommended to me. Any ideas?

 

[JS]

Check your firewall settings. It may
set to block and ftp traffic.

The default ftp port is #21.

 

[sm82578]

I am using port #21, and even totally disabled my Firewall and Anti-Virus
when trying to log in before, still to no avail.

Any other ideas? Thanks so much!

 

[John Wunderlich]

I have a Dell that was purchased in 2005 and came with Windows XP.
I'm trying to update my personal website, but cannot log into any
ftp server. I have tried this through Command Prompt, through
"Leech FTP", and through Internet Explorer. My internet
connection is absolutely fine.

Is this because of a problem with Windows? "Recovery Install" has
been recommended to me. Any ideas?

It might be an active/passive issue. If you're behind a NAT router,
then you should be using Passive FTP. The Command prompt FTP supports
active mode only. I'm not sure about Leech FTP. Internet Explorer can
support Passive if you check the box in:
Tools -> Internet Options -> Advanced -> Use Passive FTP.

A little more info on what happens when you try to log in might be
helpful.

-- John

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have a Dell that was purchased in 2005 and came with Windows XP. I'm
trying to update my personal website, but cannot log into any ftp server.
I
have tried this through Command Prompt,

What exactly did you do at the command prompt, and what were the results
returned?

through "Leech FTP", and through
Internet Explorer.

What version? IE7 handles FTP sites that require passwords very
differently than ie6, and probably poorly. Try another browser, such as
FireFox.

My internet connection is absolutely fine.

And are you sure that the correct ports are opened on the router?

Is this because of a problem with Windows?

Try from another system attached to the same network. If you have the same
problem, it's with the network, not with Windows,starting at the router, or
your login.

"Recovery Install" has been
recommended to me. Any ideas?

There isn't really a "recovery install" except from manufacturer's install
disks, many of which will wipe your system as the beginning of the process.

It's probably an inappropriate step.

Any error messages returned by the FTP server would likely be very helpful.

HTH
-pk

 

[sm82578]

Dear John,

Thanks so much for your suggestions! I just looked under Tools in Internet
Explorer, and found that Passive FTP was checked already (probably done by my
Webmaster when he sat at my computer and tried to set everything he could
possibly think of, including Trusted Zone members in my Firewall -- which
I've also tried turning completely off when trying to log into ftp).

When I try to download my website on Adobe Co-Author, it says
"Connecting...", and eventually times out after a long while. The same
happens on Leech FTP; it says, "Connected to spencermyer.com, waiting for
response...", and then times out. I even extended the timeout limit, and it
still never "got the response". When trying on Internet Explorer, same
thing: "Connecting..." for a little while, and then that just disappears and
the previous screen is all that's left. In the Command Prompt, after waiting
a long while, it eventually says "Unable to connect to spencermyer.com".

In response to another person's response, I did try loading Adobe Co-Author
onto my sister's computer when she was visiting, hooked it to my internet,
and it worked like a charm. So I don't think it's my internet connection.

Any other ideas? I really appreciate this.

 

[sm82578]

Dear Patrick,

Thanks so much for your response. My sister was visiting recently, and I
hooked up her computer to my internet, and successfully/easily downloaded my
site onto Adobe Co-Author (which was the first thing I tried on my computer,
and what I eventually want to do). So I know there's not a problem with my
internet provider... unfortunately.

In Command Prompt, for instance, I enter (after ftp>): open spencermyer.com
It immediately reads, "Connected to spencermyer.com", but then does not ask
for a password, nor will anything appear on the screen when I try to type.
After a long while, "Connection closed by remote host" appears.

In Leech FTP, when I enter the host, username, and password, I see
"Connected to spencermyer.com, waiting for response...". This stays onscreen
for about two minutes. Then appears "Socket Error: operation timed out or
aborted ~ Could not login to spencermyer.com", and it begins trying again...
I have even extended the timeout limit; same result.

My Webmaster has been here to set my Trusted Zone settings in my Firewall,
and I have even tried turning the Firewall and AntiVirus completely OFF when
doing these things...

Does that help at all? Any other ideas? I really appreciate this.

 

[John Wunderlich]

Dear John,

Thanks so much for your suggestions! I just looked under Tools in
Internet Explorer, and found that Passive FTP was checked already
(probably done by my Webmaster when he sat at my computer and
tried to set everything he could possibly think of, including
Trusted Zone members in my Firewall -- which I've also tried
turning completely off when trying to log into ftp).

When I try to download my website on Adobe Co-Author, it says
"Connecting...", and eventually times out after a long while. The
same happens on Leech FTP; it says, "Connected to spencermyer.com,
waiting for response...", and then times out. I even extended the
timeout limit, and it still never "got the response". When trying
on Internet Explorer, same thing: "Connecting..." for a little
while, and then that just disappears and the previous screen is
all that's left. In the Command Prompt, after waiting a long
while, it eventually says "Unable to connect to spencermyer.com".

In response to another person's response, I did try loading Adobe
Co-Author onto my sister's computer when she was visiting, hooked
it to my internet, and it worked like a charm. So I don't think
it's my internet connection.

Any other ideas? I really appreciate this.

You might try LSPFix. Occasionally it will solve a stubborn problem:
<http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>

It might also be a firewall program. Some firewall programs are hidden
- for example the Cisco VPN Client contains a firewall that is active
even when the client isn't. If you use the Windows Firewall, make sure
that FTP is checked on the Exceptions page on the Windows Firewall
Control Panel.

Good Luck,
John