How to open internet ports?

[lowzeewee]

Hello, whenever I download files like game demos, the download always stops halfway and sometimes it doesn't start at all. I believe it is a problem with ports on my laptop that are closed and I clearly have no idea how to open them. Using the same internet connection and wires to connect to my dad's laptop, downloading is no problem. So basically, how do I open ports?

[gryphon]

If some ports are indeed blocked like you suggested, just disabling the firewall that blocks those ports should be enough. If you feel unsafe on the internet at that time.. .

[ a little secret from me, gryphon hasn't used a firewall on his laptop for about 9 months and I am running with WindowsXP ]

look at the port IE is trying to connect to. It should be in the little progress bar on the lower part of the IE screen [ or whichever browser you are using ] and just allow that port accuess in your firewall.

Although I doubt it has got something to do with ports, as the download does start in some cases and just stops in the download progress. Do you use the same programms as on your dad's laptop ? ...and try to use a download manager, most of them can resume broken downloads so you can resume the download when it disconnects you in the progress.

[lowzeewee]

Yes, the same programmes as on my dad's laptop. The only differences are that this laptop(actually its my sis') is running on WindowsXP and is of WinXP SP2...

Thanks for the help, I'll go check out the firewall configurations now.

EDIT: I've completely turned off my firewall and cleared all ports of any possible firewall blockage and I successfully downloaded a game demo that I wanted but when it seems that when I try to d/l other games, sometimes it still doesn't even start. Thanks a lot anyway, at least I manage to get the game I wanted. This is why I like the Fed2k community. :)