Removing Internet Connection Firewall

[Michael Barnes]

I recently installed a Linksys rounter to allow a home
network and, following the Microsoft instructions,
enabled the Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP.
I could not get the network to function so I unhooked the
rounter and disabled the firewall. Since then, I have
had trouble with my internet connection. I use my
computer for a variety of tasks. I have not been able to
access my online investment information. All webpages
have been very slow to load (it took about 30 sec to load
the most recent about 20 messages on this list). When I
play online "first person shooter" games I get huge lags
even though my ping is one of the best around.

I have checked with Linksys support and they were no
help. I have checked the MS help files and found nothing
about this. The only place I found information about
this was through the game system GameSpy. In their help
they say that disabling a firewall does not actually free
up the ports that the firewall had blocked! Essentially,
when I tell the computer to undo what it had done it does
not do so. I am given a list of 9 ports that are needed
3xxx,6xxx, 2xxxx, 13xxx.

How can I check these ports to see if they are open and
if they are not open, how do I open them?

Thank you,

Michael Barnes

 

[Dave - Freedonia]

You can get a port scanner...the one I use is Advanced port scanner:
http://www.radmin.com/download/default.html
It's freeware and you can enter which ports you want to check.

I don't know why MS told you to turn on the XP firewall if you have a
Linksys router. The router has a 'firewall' that can block outside
attempts to get in unless you put your computer in the DMZ.

You could try to System Restore you system to a day before you 'turned'
on the firewall.

You may want to run ping tests on your IP...(www.pingmeplease.com) and
Traceroutes to see if you can pinpoint any network problems that may be
slowing your internet connection down.

HTH,
Dave