FTP not working

Question

I am running Windows XP Home Edition.  A friend of mine recently networked my two computers together, both using the same OS.  After he did so, FTP stop working completly.    I have tried disabling the network, I have shut off BOTH Norton firewall and windows firewall.  No dice.  I've made sure the correct ports are open.  I even opened up port 20 just to make sure.  I've pinged the ftp address I'm trying to connect to and that works fine.  I've connected to the FTP site from other computers just fine.   I've tried two FTP clients, SmartFTP and CuteFTP, neither work even in passive mode.  I've tried it through my browser, checking internet tools for enabled FTP folder views and passive FTP.  Doesn't work.   I've searched and distroyed all viruses and spyware.   Any other ideas?  This is driving me nuts.  I've tried support through Dell, Microsoft and Symantic and I don't want to pay the $35 support fee just yet.  Can't find any 'free' help from them.

rwm32 · Answer

This is a long shot, but it could be worth running Winsockfix, downloadable from here: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html (amongst many other URLs).

jmwills · Answer

What program were you using before this happened and what ports are you using?  You could also do a System restore to a point before it stopped working bevcasue networking the two will not cause FTP to stop working. Message Edited by jmwills on 09-08-200612:12 PM

Athuff · Answer

I did already try the winsockfix. I spent five hours trying to fix this and reading over every mention of firewall blocking ftp I could find on the internet.

System Restore scares me a bit. The networking was done almost a month ago. The next day FTP stopped working and it was the only change that had been made at the time. How much and what will I lose if I do a system restore?

Message Edited by Athuff on 09-08-200608:40 AM

jmwills · Answer

Just the System Files that were changed in that time period.  Now thia also means updates, etc and installed programs.  This does affect your data.

Athuff · Answer

I did a system restore, back to August 8th.  I lost quite a bit of stuff, but not anything I can't get back.  Although, it didn't fix the ftp problem.  So it's got to be something on the computer working to activitely block the ports (I imagine) that was put on after the 8th, but doesn't affect the system files.

jmwills · Answer

Can you tell if you ate being blovked locally or at the receiving site?  tracert would tell you this.

Athuff · Answer

I know I'm being blocked locally.  Tracert went through just fine.  When I run my FTP client I get a socket connection, waiting for welcome message.  CuteFTP timesout.  SmartFTP tells me that my computer disconnected.  IE says that I don't have permission to access the folder.

jmwills · Answer

Check Ports 21 & 22 on your firewall configuration.  They should be set to allow traffic in and out.

Athuff · Answer

First, those ports were open.   Okay, I feel like a total idiot but I'm going to share in case anyone else has this problem.  Norton has many security tools on it, not just firewall.  I went into Norton and shut down security (had tried that already and didn't work), firewall (had tried), Outbreak Alert (hadn't tried), Intrusion Detection (hadn't tried), and Spyware and Adware (hadn't tried). It worked.   So something in Outbreak Alert, Intrusion Detection or Spyware/Adware was blocking it.  Makes sense, I could never share files between the two computers after they were networked either, just an internet connection.  I will figure out what's blocking it in those catagories later but first, I've got some uploading to do.  In the meantime, I'll just have to shut it all down while I'm ftping.   Thank you to everyone who helped especially JMWILLS.

jmwills · Answer

You are welcome and that's the reason I HATE those third party firewalls.  They hardly ever tell you when is being blocked and do not ask permission if something needs to get out.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

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