# "ARGH!" or "Who Wants to Help Jester with Computer Problems?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2001, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-or-who-wants-to-help-jester-with-computer-problems/65155 "2001-05-12T01:25:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jester/32/8223_2.png) [@Jester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jester)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-or-who-wants-to-help-jester-with-computer-problems/65155/1 "2001-05-12T01:25:30Z")
I have recently discovered that my internet connection seems to have a general firewall up against anything that is even mildly entertaining. In short, I cannot connect to a number of different servers, including: Napster(when it was still running) or any of its affiliates, Yahoo! Games, Multiplayer servers for computer games (most notable of which are Half-Life, Homeworld, and Rogue Spear), and any download server. This was a problem back when I had 56k, and while I thought that the purchase of a DSL would fix it, it has not. Now I can just be denied access to servers at alarming speeds. So, I figure that it probably has something to do with AOL. Any suggestions? Tips? Advice? Shoulders to cry on? If it helps, every time that I try to connect to a server, the only messages I get are “cannot connect to server” generic crap. I’m at your mercy, fellow Dopers! ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-or-who-wants-to-help-jester-with-computer-problems/65155/2 "2001-05-12T02:00:05Z")
Get rid of AOL? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-or-who-wants-to-help-jester-with-computer-problems/65155/3 "2001-05-12T02:11:59Z")
[village.stargate.net](http://village.stargate.net) This is what I use. They’re a pretty decent service, and they ARE around here, Jester. 20 bucks a month, and no limits. Pretty decent. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-or-who-wants-to-help-jester-with-computer-problems/65155/4 "2001-05-12T02:16:13Z")
Is this a work connection or a home connection? Frankly, I’ve had other ISPs at home but am using AOL now, and I never have any denial of access problems (it _is_ slower than my last local ISP). ---
**Author:** ![SpinneZiege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@SpinneZiege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpinneZiege)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-or-who-wants-to-help-jester-with-computer-problems/65155/5 "2001-05-12T04:08:31Z")
I’ve gotta go with Guin’s idea, old friend. AOL does seriously suck. I had it for three months in 1994 before I got rid of it. I’ve been quite satisfied with my local ISP since (especially since I upgraded to DSL ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-or-who-wants-to-help-jester-with-computer-problems/65155/6 "2001-05-12T06:51:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jester \* > \*\*This was a problem back when I had 56k, and while I thought that the purchase of a DSL would fix it, it has not. Now I can just be denied access to servers at alarming speeds. > > So, I figure that it probably has something to do with AOL. Any suggestions? Tips? Advice? Shoulders to cry on? > \*\* I doubt that it is just AOL. You said you got a DSL line – usually those come with a different ISP you log into – did yours? If so, then you wouldn’t be connecting through AOLNet lines at all (even though you could log on to AOL from an active DSL connection). As for AOL, I’ve never had any problem connecting, for instance, to Napster through an AOLNet connection (and that was on 56k modem) – so they are not firewalling it away. What kind of computer and which operating system (and version) ? Have you checked over the internet configuration connection – perhaps something is not configured corectly in your setup? Do you have any other problems connecting to web pages and such? (or is it just with specialized server-connect programs like napster, etc?) Is this problem from home or work? (For instance, a workplace WOULD likely firewall Napster connections out, for instance, because they want you working! 😉 ) Sorry I can’t be of more help, but you probably need to check on more of the details. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argh-or-who-wants-to-help-jester-with-computer-problems/65155/7 "2001-05-12T14:43:40Z")
IN control panel you might look at the Internet connection setup & see if you set security too high for those fun sites.