i'm using a winXP pc. i'm connected to the net thru LAN. The other pc is running linux debian. my problem is that i cant connect to instant messengers, file-sharing programs, and the like on my windows pc. i didnt enable firewall on it but i still cant connect. to connect to the internet, i need to have proxies enabled. a few months back, i didnt have any problems on connecting. i'm a newbie when it comes to linux so i appriciate if you could guide me step by step?

by the way, i just reformatted my windows pc so i guess that eliminates any possibilities that it's the one with the problem. thanks again

hmm, I think you are connected to the internet through a Linux Server working as a gateway for you. supposing this is correct. it is more likely that the admin of this server maybe has blocked certain ports and that's why you can't connect to some programs but browsing just works fine.

I recommend you cotact him, since the problem is not in your PC.

thanks

Become root in linux, and give the command It will printout a table, look at destination "default" under the "gateway" column,
the reported IP address SHOULD be the IP address of the windowsXP machine.

also make sure that th nameservers is /etc/resolv.conf are correct DNS servers.

If both these settings are correct, then linux is confogured fine, and its a windows problem.

Make sure windows is setup to share the internet connection, and that port forwarding is enabled on potrs that need to be open on linux... for example UDP and TCP 1214 for Fastrack.

Unfortunatly, i cannot help with configureing windows, try a windows specific forum.

this code will give a list of ports linux is currently listening on.

thanks for the quick replies. ok, i've ask the one who set up the linux pc and he said he did block ports. i know the root password, so how do i config it so that it will unblock those ports that i need.