RPTools.net

Although I can't disagree with Az there, try un-installing and reinstalling Internet Options in Add/Remove programs.

Alas I'm not a Vista user and I've not worked on it nearly enough to 'blind-navigate' the GUI so you're on your own. Essentially you're going into your Add/Remove Programs folder, find Window's Components. Once you've done that try to un-install and reinstall something to do with Internet configuration (or something similar - if a Vista user could offer more information I'd appreciate it).

If that doesn't work, go for the full reformat -- its an donkey, but that's Vista. Unfortunately in XP they have a option for repairing your Windows installation (without wiping the data), alas in Vista no such option exists/works.

Illiani

Oh dang, I was going to suggest that. Why on EARTH did they take that out, it was so necessary...?

( I did corporate desktop support for XP, but I escaped that before Vista came along )

Yeah... looks like a full re-install is what I will need at this rate. I won't do it just yet (mostly because I'm terrifed of losing stuff) but I will probably attempt it fairly soon. Thank you all for your help.

..and maybe upgrade to XP while he's at it.

Oh the ironic truth of that statement...

Drugged dwarf, unfortunately when you reformat you will lose all data currently on your computer. What you should do is over the next few days start backing up what you need. I'd advise using DVDs as they hold so much more than anything else. You will not be able to save your installed programmes so don't even both trying to save your Pinball high scores. Instead try to build up list of programmes installed so you can quickly find them again.

IMPORTANT: before you even consider a full reformat grab your network drivers off the internet. Otherwise you may find yourself unable to connect (due to a lack of drivers) after the format. CHECK THAT THEY ARE THE RIGHT DRIVERS BEFORE RELYING ON THEM.

Illiani

There is a free program used by Linux (during the installation process) that will repartition your hard drive in a non-destructive way. You defrag your C: drive, then boot Linux from a CD and repartition the drive, making C: a little smaller and creating a new D: drive.

When you reboot into Windows, the drive will be there without a filesystem on it, so you'll need to format it. Now you can copy your files from C: to D: (basically My Documents and similar various folders). Unfortunately, many programs still store data under Program Files (idiots!) so you can't be sure you've got everything unless you go through every folder. (sigh)

If you run out of space on D:, do the above procedure again: defrag C:, extend D: a little bit, then reboot Windows and move more files.

I'm not sure what the name of the tool is, though. Does anyone else know the name? I know there's parted and the graphical qtparted, but I'm not sure either are used by the installation program. (And yes, the install process uses a different one, I think.) Of course, you might not need the name at all, since you can just boot a live Linux CD (such as Ubuntu) which will already have the program on it. The problem with those live CDs is that they don't typically commit the partition change until they begin the installation, so you'd have to actually start the Linux install. When the installation is done, boot into Windows and reformat the partition that was just installed to! But this process will only work once -- you can't go back and resize the partition to make it bigger after moving some of the files, because they'll be overwritten during the second installation.

Anyway, as I said earlier. Good luck.

Yeah; I like my method better; It has a distinct lack of Linux in it.

While I like the power Linux gives its users and I (alas) have to use ubuntu all too often; I honestly get brain fried by it.

Was this ever resolved? I'm having the same issue.

Indeed. I am also having this exact same issue, and am curious if there was ever a resolution.

Much of the time, the issue with your ISP and their terms of service not allowing "servers". You would need to check with them.. they may be able to make an exception or give you a list of ports that they explicitly allow, but many are just another name for donkeys in which case your only option is to go shopping for a new ISP. On the positive side , one thing to remember about ISP's who do cut connections when servers are started up is that they may be doing this to help prevent the spread of Viruses... of course, this is a bad argument when they should be trying to educate people to not be morons and stop engaging in risky behavior in the first place(no, you can't have any candy, you might choke on it!!!!)