Unable to Update Windows through new modem/router

[Guest]

Since installing new modem/router to broadband connection am unable to access
windows update.
Reading lots in router manufacturer's website (Trend) believe that its a NAT
issue & MS need to see my IP address.
Presume the solution is Port Forwarding (in router) but need to know what
ports to free up for MS (particulalry update).
Grateful for any help, have extensively searched newsgroups etc, new to
networking & web
ps All else works ok so far & networking 3 PCs ok

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Since installing new modem/router to broadband connection am unable to access
windows update.
Reading lots in router manufacturer's website (Trend) believe that its a NAT
issue & MS need to see my IP address.
Presume the solution is Port Forwarding (in router) but need to know what
ports to free up for MS (particulalry update).
Grateful for any help, have extensively searched newsgroups etc, new to
networking & web
ps All else works ok so far & networking 3 PCs ok

I don't think that Microsoft needs to see your computer's IP address.
Every NAT router that I've seen assigns non-routable private IP
addresses to the computers. I've run Windows Update on lots of
computers connected through NAT routers, and there's never been a
problem.

How are you trying to access Windows Update? What exactly happens
when you do it? If there's an error message, what does it say?

What did the Trend web site say?
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Guest]

Right - thanks so far.

I am currently connected to Internet by ordinary DSL modem and will have to
go back to router to get specific info, but will have to be a bit later.

Basically if I go to Windows Update in my start menu or paste the update url
in my browser (I'm on aol), the browser window just hangs until eventually
timing out - can't find etc. If I go to microsoft.com from aol then go to the
update facility the connection fails & I get an error (details later). I've
followed the advice re this error and it may come down to a firewall problem
(must be router).

Not posted directly to Trend yet but similar problems all seem to point to
the need for port forwarding (eMule etc & messenger have been mentioned) &
they always seem to say - get relevant ports from (say) microsoft. Router has
to be configured with the relevant "firewall service" (ports vs TCP UDP) in
the firewall rules.

I have browsed some web sites via the current setup & achieved office
downloads etc and used eMule, but have this problem with ms update and mcafee
update.

If this sheds any light I would be grateful, otherwise I will provide more
detailed error info later.

vmt

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Right - thanks so far.

I am currently connected to Internet by ordinary DSL modem and will have to
go back to router to get specific info, but will have to be a bit later.

Basically if I go to Windows Update in my start menu or paste the update url
in my browser (I'm on aol), the browser window just hangs until eventually
timing out - can't find etc. If I go to microsoft.com from aol then go to the
update facility the connection fails & I get an error (details later). I've
followed the advice re this error and it may come down to a firewall problem
(must be router).

Not posted directly to Trend yet but similar problems all seem to point to
the need for port forwarding (eMule etc & messenger have been mentioned) &
they always seem to say - get relevant ports from (say) microsoft. Router has
to be configured with the relevant "firewall service" (ports vs TCP UDP) in
the firewall rules.

I have browsed some web sites via the current setup & achieved office
downloads etc and used eMule, but have this problem with ms update and mcafee
update.

If this sheds any light I would be grateful, otherwise I will provide more
detailed error info later.

vmt

Thanks for the details.

I don't think that you need to do port forwarding. Port forwarding
allows a program on a computer behind a router to act as a server,
i.e. to accept unsolicited connection requests from other hosts on the
Internet. When you run Windows Update or McAfee Update, your
computer acts as a client (requesting a connection), not as a server.
I've never had to configure a router to do port forwarding for Windows
Update or McAfee Update.

It's possible that your router has an MTU setting that needs to be
changed. Check Trend's web site for information.

Does your computer have a firewall program? If so, make sure that it
allows the program "Generic Host Process for Win32 Services" to access
the Internet. If it doesn't, Windows Update will fail as you
described.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Joan Archer]

Could the problem be that the OP is going through the AOL browser and
not IE.
Just a thought
Joan

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Could the problem be that the OP is going through the AOL browser and
not IE.
Just a thought
Joan

Interesting idea, Joan. I don't think that it makes a difference,
since AOL's browser is based on Internet Explorer, but it's worth a
try with Windows Update:

1. Connect to AOL.
2. Run Internet Explorer.
3. Type the Windows Update URL in the Internet Explorer address bar.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Joan Archer]

It was just a thought on my part as I know from reading some posts that
AOL can cause problems regarding some things as it tends to take over
the machine in some respects <g> Lets hope the OP can sort out their
problems.
Joan

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

It was just a thought on my part as I know from reading some posts that
AOL can cause problems regarding some things as it tends to take over
the machine in some respects <g> Lets hope the OP can sort out their
problems.
Joan

Some versions of AOL's software have a deservedly bad reputation. As
I recall, versions 4/5 could break Dial-Up Networking on Windows
95/98, preventing the use of any other ISP. I attribute that to
incompetent software design and coding, not to malicious intent, by
AOL.

I think that AOL has been getting its software act together recently.
I haven't seen any such problems with AOL version 8 or 9 on Windows
XP.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Guest]

Many thanks for your help Joan. Sorry to say not the answer (update from the
start menu automatically uses IE & had tried it separately), but problem
solved & I will post reply to Steve (not sure how the round of communications
goes but wanted to thank you.
Sadly . . I don't know what OP stands for, but bet its something simple.
Regards

 

[Guest]

Steve
Many thanks for great help & problem is sorted. It turned out to be MTU
size. AOL quoted 1400 whereas router was defaulted to larger than this.
Proved result by changing back etc. Will now have to look for a good article
explaining MTU . . .

I agree with comments about aol. All techies I've spoken to seem to
bad-mouth aol & immediately blame it. Latest versions do seem to be user &
computer friendly.

Thanks again for your help
Regards

 

[Joan Archer]

Glad to hear that you have your problem solved.
I don't know enough to offer advice but do know I had read posts
regarding AOL so thought it worth mentioning <g>
OP = Original Poster
Joan

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

..
Glad to hear that you have your problem solved.
I don't know enough to offer advice but do know I had read posts
regarding AOL so thought it worth mentioning <g>
OP = Original Poster
Joan

You've taught me something Joan -- I've seen "OP" in messages many
times, but I never knew what it meant. Thanks for explaining it.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

Steve
Many thanks for great help & problem is sorted. It turned out to be MTU
size. AOL quoted 1400 whereas router was defaulted to larger than this.
Proved result by changing back etc.

How did you find the MTU value of1400? Was it on the AOL web site?
Did you get it from their tech support?

Will now have to look for a good article explaining MTU . . .

Here are some possibilities:

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/6266
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=283165
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=319661
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/794/router_mtu.html
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article04-107

I agree with comments about aol. All techies I've spoken to seem to
bad-mouth aol & immediately blame it. Latest versions do seem to be user &
computer friendly.

Some people apparently think that it makes them sound cool if they
bad-mouth AOL.

I find a lot to like in AOL 9.0 Security Edition:

1. AOL Communicator is a great stand-alone E-mail client that handles
AOL, POP3, and IMAP accounts.

2. Radio@AOL is one of my favorite Internet radio services.

3. The free McAfee antivirus that comes with it works very well, and I
usually don't like McAfee products.

4. There's an interesting new program called AOL Network Magic that
gives a graphical view of your local area network, shows attached
computers and devices, and reports possible intruders.

I don't like AOL's antispyware application, though.

Thanks again for your help
Regards

You're welcome. I'm glad that my suggestion helped you solve the
problem.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Joan Archer]

Thanks for that Steve, praise from an MVP is much appreciated, a small
feather in my cap, wait until I tell Mike and Noel. <g>
Joan