Messenger --- File sharing????

[sri2000_uk]

My self and a friend both use Windows Messenger in XP. She can send JPG files to me, but when I send one to her it fails to go, with the message "File sharing is blocked --- contact your network administrator or your ISP. We are both on the same ISP.

I have a feeling that it is a simple setting needs modifying, but need a pointer to what it is.


Jack

[fatboyjim]

This used to happen to me, try rebooting your system or re-connecting your Internet connection.

I know this has happened to me, and I didn't change anything

Do you have a firewall program on? This always used to create problems with MSN Messenger for me


HTH, Thanks,

Jim

[DilLy]

Yeah, it could be your firewall if you are using one. Or you could not have FIle and Printer Sharing installed or enabled. Go to your Network Settings and check those first, that is the easiest way to start.

Tell us what you find.

[sri2000_uk]

The re-boot does not make any difference.
I will look at the file sharing etc later today ----- I just called in home and must get back to work.
I do not have a firewall that I am aware of, but I will check for that also.

Many thanks

Jack

[fatboyjim]

Dilly, does File and Print sharing actually make a difference? I wouldn't have thought so to be honest (and if you're not on a network DO NOT enable those features)

If I'm wrong, please correct me

[Miz]

Having experienced the same problem using ICQ, MS Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and mIRC, I talked to the network administrator of my ISP.

He told me it has something to do with the MAC address...he gave me details, I promptly forgot most of them...which he would have to change for me and whomever I was trying to share files with BUT...

...he warned it would leave the systems "wide open to the net" (we have DSL). I run a firewall behind a router, so I told him to go ahead.

After he worked his magic, I've had no problems with file transfers to the other system on which he did whatever he did with the MAC address. However, I still can't transfer files directly to others on my ISP, so I assume the MAC address change has to be done for each individual system wishing to receive files from someone on the same ISP.

So, try calling your ISP and see if they can give you any help.

[DilLy]

Fatboy, you are right, I think. Unless you are on a network, do not have Sharing on. I was just thinking of the error he got and nothing more, I do not know why he is getting that error, or why he would need it enabled for using MSN Messenger.

You do not need Sharing on at all if not on a network. The less you have running that you don't need, the less likely there is to be a problem wiht whatever it is.

But anyway, re-reading this I think you are right Fatboy.

hmmmmm....

[sri2000_uk]

I have over the last two days installed a network hub, and put the cards in the computers ---- I have two on the home network, my daughters computer will be added eventually. The network works perfectly I can transfer files (sharing) either way
My hard drives are partitioned with partition magic and run XP and Me. I was on messenger in Me last night to my friend and still cannot send a file to her, yet she can to me.
Tonight, she is going to use Me (her computer is partitioned also)instead of XP which we usually use.
I feel that the suggestions that it may be an ISP problem is a strong possibility when operating systems on two computers, in my home have the same problem.
If I cannot send to her on Me, it has to be the ISP, would you all agree.
I can e-mail attached files with no problem --- I forgot to mention that.
If we manage to "chat" tonight, I will come back here to let you know the outcome.
I used to be able to send to send files to her on messenger, and we both use the same ISP with exactly the same setup.
Incidently, she only lives a few hundred yards down the road from me. Why would the ISP stop me from sending files and not her?

Jack

[DilLy]

Well, that's an interesting situation.

Since I can't think of anything off hand, I am going to suggest to you something I hate to do: call your ISP and ask them if they know anything about it. Not that anyone here will not be able to help you, but wether it is or is not hte ISP, it would be a good idea to weed them out by calling.

[sri2000_uk]

Hi friends,
I hated to do it, but I just called my ISP (Telewest) and they told me that it is certainly nothing to do with them.
It is now 8:45 in the UK, I will be on messenger in just over an hour. My friend is going to load Me to see if it her system which is blocking the files.
I will let you know what happens.

Jack

[sri2000_uk]

05:47 Thursday morning.
The problem is exactly the same with her using Me, the file fails to go.
The message I get is "connection blocked, please contact your network administrator or your ISP"
I am totally baffled now --- my two computers -- different operating systems XP Me
--- her computer in XP and Me and she sent me a jpg pic last night, but I cannot send one to her.
I can send attachments in e-mails using my ISP account.

I just had a thought --- my messenger ID is also my Microsoft Hotmail ID. It might be an idea to see if I can attach a file to hotmail. If that fails to go, it is the Microsoft settings.
Any comments would be most welcome

Jack

[Miz]

You said you're using a network hub. Is it a hub or a router?Windows Messenger has "issues" with routers. If you're using a hub and one of the computers as a gateway (Internet Connection Sharing), maybe somebody else can help you. I have no experience with ICS.

If you're using a router, however, you'll have to configure your router to forward the ports WinMessenger uses for file transfers to the computer you are sending the files from because:

"The Windows Messenger client uses a "gethostbyname" Winsock call to determine the IP address. The Windows Messenger client sends that IP address to the remote client, so that the remote client can connect to that address and retrieve the file." (from the MS Knowledge Base)

In other words, when the "remote client" (your friend's computer) tries to connect to the IP address, it just gets the router. The router needs to "forward" that connection attempt to your computer.

Microsoft says the ports WinMessenger uses for file transfers are 6891 through 6900. You only need to forward port 6891 for a one-at-a-time transfer. If you want to do more than one file transfer at a time, you'll need to forward the above range of ports.

[sri2000_uk]

My computers are connected directly to the telephone line through v90 modems.
I had the problem with messenger before I installed the network.
I have no idea how to forward a port, or what it means.
I am going to try messenger tonight using my daughters ID.
I will let you know the result

Thank you

Jack

[sri2000_uk]

Hi Miz,
Could you tell me the steps needed to forward ports. I wish to try that to see if it makes any difference.

Many thanks

Jack

[Tuf]

I looked MSN Messenger and I don't see any setting that controls this. Are you sure it is on your end and not on hers? It seems I remember something about blocking files on IM clients. I don't remember where though....Windows Update or Norton Anti-Virus maybe. I'll look around a little bit and see what I can't come up with.

[sri2000_uk]

Friday 05:37am,
Last night I found an article on Microsoft help site(Q313973) which listed the exact error message I am getting. The workaround said ---control panel--- double click network connections--- on the menu at the top click --- advanced settings ----on the adapters and bindings tab -- click remote access connections -- then click the up arrow button until "remote access connections" is at the top of the list.
I did this last night, it made no difference.
My friend down the road has the same setup as myself, but without a network.
This weekend I am going to format the computer in my bedroom, with the network cable unplugged. Then re-load XP to see if messenger file transfer works.
I will keep you all informed.

Thank you for your help

Jack

[fatboyjim]

Question number Q313973 seems to be related to the error of not being able to transfer files over a Virtual Private Network which is NOT the internet problem you have

I have had this error before and it has sorted itself out

HTH, Thanks

[DilLy]

a self-solving problem? Those are cool. But I hate how you never really know what the solution was.

[sri2000_uk]

10:37PM Friday.
I have formatted the XP partition on my bedroom computer and re-installed XP (PRO) I have just successfully sent a jpg image file to my friend using Messenger.
I have written down all of the adapter and bindings settings. When I re-add the computer to my home network, I will have some idea's now what to look for if the file transfer is disabled.
Many many thanks to you all for the help. All of the suggestions are valuable to me --- it helps me to learn.
I will post here again when the network is up and running.

Thank you all

Jack

[fatboyjim]

Glad you got it sorted out but sorry we couldn't be of more help

I wonder what caused the problem? I guess we'll never know

Thanks,

Jim

[Tuf]

Maybe not, But now they can trade pics in the middle of the night from their bedrooms and isn't that really what it is all about?

LOL
just teasin'

[fatboyjim]

:)

It's what the internet was made for, obviously

[sri2000_uk]

05:30 Saturday,
I am fairly sure that when I install the network on the bedroom computer, the same problem will occur, then we will all have a chance at a cure. The cause will have beenvery much narrowed down.
Tuf, you hit the nail on the head, re pics in the night. lol
Watch this space for tonights update.

Jack

[sri2000_uk]

Saturday 10:27pm,
Oh well, back to the drawing board. The network is installed and works fine, but I, once again, cannot send files in messenger, It worked ok last night, it has to be the network causing the problem --- but what?
Anyone got a hammer?
Must go, she is online now.

Jack

[sri2000_uk]

For file transfer in messenger this is the advice on the Microsoft help site.

"Both incoming and outgoing TCP connections use this range of ports 6891 to 6900.
The TCP ports need to be configured so that sockets on a port remain open for extended periods of time"

Nowhere is there an explanation of how to check or do this.

I think that I am going to have to give up.

[sri2000_uk]

I have pasted the complete Microsoft article below. As I said before, it does not tell you how to actually do anything.

Jack

Note: This is part of the Guide for Network Administrators. It is not intended for end users.

As a network administrator, you can improve the way the people on your local area network connect to instant messaging services. Windows Messenger will connect users on a local area network to instant messaging services by using the same connection that their default browser uses—if it can find no other way. Connecting like this limits the functionality of Windows Messenger mainly to sending instant messages and seeing who is online.

For your network users to enjoy the best performance and full functionality—including transferring files—you may be able to configure your proxy servers in a way that enables them to connect directly to the instant messaging servers.

For instant messaging

To allow your network users to have a direct connection to instant messaging services, you will need to:

Open outgoing TCP connections to Port 1863 on your proxy servers.
Let your network users know which kind of proxy server your network uses (HTTP, SOCKS4, or SOCKS5) and provide them with the corresponding details (server name, port number, and so forth) so they can enter that information on the Connection tab of the Options dialog box (Tools, Options).
Make sure the internal local area network has access to the Domain Name System (DNS) servers to resolve the names of external hosts such as messenger.msn.com.

For file transfer

Both incoming and outgoing TCP connections use this range of ports: 6891 to 6900. This allows up to 10 simultaneous file transfers per sender. If you open only Port 6891, users will be able to do only one file transfer at a time.

The TCP ports need to be configured so that sockets on a port remain open for extended periods of time.

Note

File transfer may not work if you are behind a network address translation (NAT) device.

[Tuf]

This is kinda wierd because messenger software is written for people who are on thier computers frequently. Frequently these people are on a network. Heck networks are even becoming common in peoples homes. I wonder does M$ offer support for messenger? You might try calling M$, I'll bet they can connect you to someone who knows. I have called them several times over the years and they have always been able to help.

[sri2000_uk]

I agree, that seems the next logical step. My computers are on a home network, and it is becoming common.

Jack

[sri2000_uk]

Tuesday 5:00pm
I have just filled in an "online" form" to submit to Microsoft.
When I get a reply I will let you all know the result.
If I can, I will paste the reply on to this site, so that everyone can benefit from the tuition. (if it works)

Jack

[fatboyjim]

"If it works"

Exactly, a FREE online question to Microsoft?

There is a formula for working out how long it'll take for an answer, you know.

Take your age in years, multiply this by how many dollars Bill Gates has, then this number to the power of how many bugs there are in Windows.

You can faff around with the above formula or realise you won't get an answer for a while if it didn't cost anything

[sri2000_uk]

Last night, out of curiosity, myself and my friend downloaded Yahoo messenger, we chatted and then I tried to send a file.

IT WORKED-IT WORKED-IT WORKED.

So the file sending in Microsoft, is a Microsoft problem.
I still want to get to the bottom of the problem, I hate things which do not work.

Jack

[sri2000_uk]

Wednesday 5:04pm

I received a reply from "Bill Gates" this morning.
They have forwarded my communication to their customer services. I have just heard from them --- they are going to e-mail me again when they have decided on my eligibility for help.

Jack

[sri2000_uk]

Microsoft have been most hepful in telling me that as my copy of XP is an OEM version, I must contact the computer builder to obtain support on this issue. They offered me pay as you go support, but that is not for me.
I have replied that I will use Yahoo messenger in future as it works perfectly for file transfer.

I built the computer myself, so I will e-mail myself and see what I say.
All the best to you all and thank you for your input.

Jack

[fatboyjim]

Glad to see you got it sorted, and told Micro$oft to stick it up 'em

:D

[Tuf]

I'm suprised as bad as Microsoft wants to have the dominate messenging software, I would think it would be obvious that to be successful the software has to work. As bad as everyone knocks M$ they have always helped me with oddbal problems. One Sunday when XP first came out I had two MS people tied up from opening to close. In the followings days I recieved several calls making sure I was happy. A couple of weeks later I recieved a check to cover my phone bill, even though I had never requested one. All this to solve a problem that wasn't even their fault!

[JMERRIFE]

...what's your last name, Tuf? Is it "Gates"?

[sri2000_uk]

This could go on forever, well it's been funny at time anyway.
I went yesterday to the computer people I bought all of my hardware from and explained what was happening.
One of their people is, fortunately, about to set up an XP home network. When he does so, he will try sending files to a friend of his to see what happens. If the fault "gets him" he will have a go at sorting it.
I will come back here and let you know the result. Unfortunately, it may be a week or so, before I hear anything.

Jack

[sri2000_uk]

Forgot to mention. I told Microsoft that in future I will stick to Yahoo messenger because it works.

Jack

[fatboyjim]

"I have replied that I will use Yahoo messenger in future as it works perfectly for file transfer"

You didn't forget the first time :)

[Tuf]

No Name is not Gates....LOL.....But I wonder how many people actually contact M$ instead of just griping. When I buy a new car,If it has a problem I don't ask my neighbor what is wrong with it.

[fatboyjim]

If everybody did THAT, Tuf, PCMech wouldn't exist

And the world would be a horrible, horrible place to live