Why is this?
I have tried using mIRC, the Adaware updater, an FTP Client, WinMX and Limewire. None of them can connect to the internet, and based on my observations of the internet activity monitor, they aren’t even trying.
Internet Explorer and MSN both connect without a hitch.
I am running Windows XP.
Can anyone please help me?
Did you just add the service pack? Is this a case of other programs being blocked by a firewall?
If you have a firewall, chek its rules, or settings.
If you aren’t sure if XP Service Pack 2 has been installed on your system (yes, it can happen, esp. if there are others that use the 'puter), click on the Start button, then right-click on My Computer (in the second column of the start panel, at or near the top IIRC), left click on Properties. When the “System Properties” window comes up, look in the upper right. If you have SP2 installed, it will say
Microsoft Windows XP (either Home Edition or Professional Edition)
Service Pack 2
some version number (don’t recall it off the top of my head, but it doesn’t matter)
If the second line says “Service Pack 1” or “Service Pack 1a” or there is no second line (just the version number), then SP2 is not installed and you will have to see if there is some other firewall software installed (most common culprit would be Norton Internet Security, as that comes pre-installed on almost all consumer Dell systems now).
If it is Service Pack 2, you’ll have to create exceptions for each program you want to allow to access the Internet (you will have to do the same for other firewall software, but the procedure would, of course, be different for each software package)
Here are some detailed instructions on making exceptions to the built-in XP SP2 firewall:
Here is the overview of the SP2 firewall;
Here are some of the SP2 firewall settings; and
Here is the procedure to allow programs to access the Internet for the SP2 firewall.
If you have SP2, follow the above procedures, and the other programs still cannot connect, then you probably, again, have other firewall software installed as well.
(I am lead tech support/troubleshooter for a point-of-sale app our company produces. It has the ability to use the Internet to transmit nightly sales data to a “home office” or some 3rd party the user designates. I just got off the phone about half an hour ago with a user that had SP2, Norton Personal Firewall, and ZoneAlarm all installed and turned on…let’s just say we had to go through a few hoops to get our app connected 
).
critter42
Thanks for your replies.
I have neither SP1 or SP2 or a third party firewall running on my computer.
Any ideas?!
OK, you’re running plain-vanilla XP. There is still a firewall built into regular XP, just not as robust as the one in SP2. Try this:
Connect to the Internet (if you’re on dial-up or need to otherwise log in to your connection)
Go to Start->Control Panel->Network and Internet connections (if in Category view)->Network Connections.
Right-click on the appropriate connection icon - usually the one that says “Connected” :). Left-click on Properties. Click on the Advanced Tab.
Now here my memory gets a little fuzzy, as it looks different now that SP2 is installed, but I believe there will be a check box labelled “enable Internet Connection Firewall (ICF)” ( or some similar wording). If that is checked, uncheck it, close all open windows and reboot. If it is UNchecked, you’ve got issues…
If it is unchecked, I would then think you’ve either got a critter(not me!) of some type running loose on your system, or you do have some firewall software installed that you’re not aware about.
Dell computers, especially ones purchased since the beginning of this year, often have Norton Internet Security pre-installed on the system and even though technically the software may not be “activated”, I’ve often found that the Personal Firewall portion is still hooked into the system and needs to be configured to allow non-standard programs (IOW, not IE, OE, or MSN Messenger ) to access the internet.
critter42