Re: Can't send files with Windows Messenger since SP2 :-(

From: Larc (larc-news_at_marslink.net)
Date: 09/17/04 

Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 14:51:37 -0400

On Fri, 17 Sep 2004 14:38:47 +0100, Alex Nichol pondered exceedingly, then took
quill in hand and carefully composed...

| Larc wrote:
|
| >When I try to send a file with Windows Messenger v.4.7.3000, I get the following
| >message:
| >
| >"Sending of 'DG.jpg' to John Doe has failed."
| >
| >This message appears on the receiving computer:
| >
| >"This file could not be sent because the connection is blocked. A firewall
| >running on your computer or on the network may be the cause. Contact your
| >network administrator or Internet service provider."
| >
| >Both computers are running WinXP Home with SP2 installed. The XP firewall is
| >turned OFF on both and there are no other software firewalls installed!
|
| I think that you do in fact have a firewall active. To send a file in
| Messenger it has to respond to a request from the accepting machine for
| it to send the file, acting as a server.

Thanks, Alex, but a firewall is active ONLY if the Windows Firewall is
constructed to be blatantly deceptive. That's the only firewall on any of the
computers I built and set up, and each has the Windows Firewall radio button
clearly selected for "Off (not recommended)."
 
| So in SP2 firewall you need on the exceptions page to Add Messenger as a
| program, and also add Port access there for TCP 6891 (and later ones -
| I put in TCP 6892 and 6893 as well)

Why would that be necessary if Windows Firewall is turned off? If it's turned
off, it should have absolutely no effect on anything.

| In Zone Alarm you have to permit Messenger to act as a server. And so
| on.

Zone Alarm isn't installed on any of my computers.

| If you are doing it through a router, then you may be in trouble with
| the Net address translation on that; you need to have the UPnP service
| in action to allow a router that has UPnP support for NAT to operate.

File sending in Windows Messenger worked flawlessly before SP2. SP2 was
installed and was the sole operational change on each computer. Now, files
can't be sent via Windows Messenger.

One would think Microsoft would have at least made every possible effort to keep
their own programs and features working with SP2. It's disappointing that they
obviously did not!

Larc

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