Vista - Virus updates & messenger connection problems

Hi All,

I've just purchased a laptop with Vista Business and networking appears to
work but I my anti-virus, Live Messenger and Skype cannot connect.

Note: I can access the web, access other shared disks on the network using
both wireless and wired lan connections.

I have turned off windows firewall and defender - still have the same problem.

What am I missing?

Thanks
LS

There are various factors that can result in this. Do check if you have any
existing software firewall installed on yout laptop (such as zonealarm). Such
softwares needs to be configured to allow applications to connect to remote
sites.

As mentioned that you have a network, do you happened to be using routers
that requires additional configurations such as port forwarding?

"lensor" wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I've just purchased a laptop with Vista Business and networking appears to
> work but I my anti-virus, Live Messenger and Skype cannot connect.
>
> Note: I can access the web, access other shared disks on the network using
> both wireless and wired lan connections.
>
> I have turned off windows firewall and defender - still have the same problem.
>
> What am I missing?
>
> Thanks
> LS

Thanks for the response - I may still be missing something, but previously
ruled out firewall(s) and network/lan issues as follows...

Firewalls:
The laptop came with Symantec which I uninstalled because I will use another
antivirus. I don't see any other firewall besides the windows firewall (vista
suggested I turn this on when Symantec was uninstalled).

Network:
I've got a mature network setup with a couple other laptops working
(including the laptop this new one is replacing), servers and voip
phones/server also working - no changes to the network and other PC's are
still working properly.

I have quite a bit of experience with all previous windows versions and
networking - but somehow Vista is presenting quite a challenge.

Somehow I would have thought Windows Live Messenger would have been a simple
"install and go" but now I wonder about the readiness of Vista.

Is there something special about vista that I need to do to let programs
communicate with the internet (programs other than IE)?


"hayami.wai" wrote:

> There are various factors that can result in this. Do check if you have any
> existing software firewall installed on yout laptop (such as zonealarm). Such
> softwares needs to be configured to allow applications to connect to remote
> sites.
>
> As mentioned that you have a network, do you happened to be using routers
> that requires additional configurations such as port forwarding?
>
> "lensor" wrote:
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I've just purchased a laptop with Vista Business and networking appears to
> > work but I my anti-virus, Live Messenger and Skype cannot connect.
> >
> > Note: I can access the web, access other shared disks on the network using
> > both wireless and wired lan connections.
> >
> > I have turned off windows firewall and defender - still have the same problem.
> >
> > What am I missing?
> >
> > Thanks
> > LS

This seems to get more interesting - but still no luck with Windows Live
Messenger or Skype! (over 3 days trying with Messenger and Skype now -- Vista
is not winning me over as a way to 'streamline' and get things done faster)

1. I discovered that "system restore" on Vista Business is useless -- much
much worse than XP.
2. Finally used the laptops "recovery feature" to start from scratch.
3. Left Symantec/Norton Firewall and Antivirus - Live Update communicates OK
through network. (Anti-virus and Security updates installed.)
4. IE7 and Windows Update works well (installed all Vista updates).
5. Installed latest Windows Live Messenger (8.1) that is avalable outside USA.
6. Error 81000306 about firewall and logging in. Doublechecked Norton
Internet Security firewall was set for "auto" - changed this to "allow".
7. Many tries, could not log in.
8. Installed .Net Framework 1.1 as saw this discussed elsewhere - still
could not log in.
9. Gave up with MSN, started with Skype.
10. Same story with Skype, will not log in - firewall set up as would expect.
11. Today, installed Counterpath Eyebeam (softphone) - worked immediately
after installing! (Usually this will have troubles, but the log is very good
for debugging voip connection issues - but it just worked!)

I've verified my passwords for Windows Live Messenger by logging in using
the Webmessenger and by logging in on the Skype website using my
username/password - so it's not a password issue.

I have to say -- I'm pretty surprised to have what seems like such a basic
problem with Vista Business!

"lensor" wrote:

> Thanks for the response - I may still be missing something, but previously
> ruled out firewall(s) and network/lan issues as follows...
>
> Firewalls:
> The laptop came with Symantec which I uninstalled because I will use another
> antivirus. I don't see any other firewall besides the windows firewall (vista
> suggested I turn this on when Symantec was uninstalled).
>
> Network:
> I've got a mature network setup with a couple other laptops working
> (including the laptop this new one is replacing), servers and voip
> phones/server also working - no changes to the network and other PC's are
> still working properly.
>
> I have quite a bit of experience with all previous windows versions and
> networking - but somehow Vista is presenting quite a challenge.
>
> Somehow I would have thought Windows Live Messenger would have been a simple
> "install and go" but now I wonder about the readiness of Vista.
>
> Is there something special about vista that I need to do to let programs
> communicate with the internet (programs other than IE)?
>
>
> "hayami.wai" wrote:
>
> > There are various factors that can result in this. Do check if you have any
> > existing software firewall installed on yout laptop (such as zonealarm). Such
> > softwares needs to be configured to allow applications to connect to remote
> > sites.
> >
> > As mentioned that you have a network, do you happened to be using routers
> > that requires additional configurations such as port forwarding?
> >
> > "lensor" wrote:
> >
> > > Hi All,
> > >
> > > I've just purchased a laptop with Vista Business and networking appears to
> > > work but I my anti-virus, Live Messenger and Skype cannot connect.
> > >
> > > Note: I can access the web, access other shared disks on the network using
> > > both wireless and wired lan connections.
> > >
> > > I have turned off windows firewall and defender - still have the same problem.
> > >
> > > What am I missing?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > LS

OK - Now I know I am not crazy since there is a solution (posted by someone
else).

Searching for the 81000306 error code I ran across the following information
which solved the problem and certainly points to a problem with Vista that
will catch even the most seasoned techy (not yet exposed to Vista, that is):

-------------------------------
Vista and Live Messenger. Apparently Vista's "auto-tuning" networking
feature doesn't play nice with some routers. Not sure if it is a bug in
Vista, a bug in Messenger or a bug in the router firmware but anyway this
looks like a possible workaround that might help other people who have the
same problem. BTW I have a NetGear DG834

Try this:
- Click start
- Type: cmd
- Right-click cmd.exe when it appears under Applications
- Click Run As Administrator
- Type the following: netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
- Press enter
- Restart your computer

To check autotuning is disabled repeat the above but type: netsh int tcp
show global

------------------------------------


"lensor" wrote:

> This seems to get more interesting - but still no luck with Windows Live
> Messenger or Skype! (over 3 days trying with Messenger and Skype now -- Vista
> is not winning me over as a way to 'streamline' and get things done faster)
>
> 1. I discovered that "system restore" on Vista Business is useless -- much
> much worse than XP.
> 2. Finally used the laptops "recovery feature" to start from scratch.
> 3. Left Symantec/Norton Firewall and Antivirus - Live Update communicates OK
> through network. (Anti-virus and Security updates installed.)
> 4. IE7 and Windows Update works well (installed all Vista updates).
> 5. Installed latest Windows Live Messenger (8.1) that is avalable outside USA.
> 6. Error 81000306 about firewall and logging in. Doublechecked Norton
> Internet Security firewall was set for "auto" - changed this to "allow".
> 7. Many tries, could not log in.
> 8. Installed .Net Framework 1.1 as saw this discussed elsewhere - still
> could not log in.
> 9. Gave up with MSN, started with Skype.
> 10. Same story with Skype, will not log in - firewall set up as would expect.
> 11. Today, installed Counterpath Eyebeam (softphone) - worked immediately
> after installing! (Usually this will have troubles, but the log is very good
> for debugging voip connection issues - but it just worked!)
>
> I've verified my passwords for Windows Live Messenger by logging in using
> the Webmessenger and by logging in on the Skype website using my
> username/password - so it's not a password issue.
>
> I have to say -- I'm pretty surprised to have what seems like such a basic
> problem with Vista Business!
>
> "lensor" wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the response - I may still be missing something, but previously
> > ruled out firewall(s) and network/lan issues as follows...
> >
> > Firewalls:
> > The laptop came with Symantec which I uninstalled because I will use another
> > antivirus. I don't see any other firewall besides the windows firewall (vista
> > suggested I turn this on when Symantec was uninstalled).
> >
> > Network:
> > I've got a mature network setup with a couple other laptops working
> > (including the laptop this new one is replacing), servers and voip
> > phones/server also working - no changes to the network and other PC's are
> > still working properly.
> >
> > I have quite a bit of experience with all previous windows versions and
> > networking - but somehow Vista is presenting quite a challenge.
> >
> > Somehow I would have thought Windows Live Messenger would have been a simple
> > "install and go" but now I wonder about the readiness of Vista.
> >
> > Is there something special about vista that I need to do to let programs
> > communicate with the internet (programs other than IE)?
> >
> >
> > "hayami.wai" wrote:
> >
> > > There are various factors that can result in this. Do check if you have any
> > > existing software firewall installed on yout laptop (such as zonealarm). Such
> > > softwares needs to be configured to allow applications to connect to remote
> > > sites.
> > >
> > > As mentioned that you have a network, do you happened to be using routers
> > > that requires additional configurations such as port forwarding?
> > >
> > > "lensor" wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi All,
> > > >
> > > > I've just purchased a laptop with Vista Business and networking appears to
> > > > work but I my anti-virus, Live Messenger and Skype cannot connect.
> > > >
> > > > Note: I can access the web, access other shared disks on the network using
> > > > both wireless and wired lan connections.
> > > >
> > > > I have turned off windows firewall and defender - still have the same problem.
> > > >
> > > > What am I missing?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks
> > > > LS

Thanks a million!!! This sorted all problems and issues with Vista so far.

"lensor" wrote:

> OK - Now I know I am not crazy since there is a solution (posted by someone
> else).
>
> Searching for the 81000306 error code I ran across the following information
> which solved the problem and certainly points to a problem with Vista that
> will catch even the most seasoned techy (not yet exposed to Vista, that is):
>
> -------------------------------
> Vista and Live Messenger. Apparently Vista's "auto-tuning" networking
> feature doesn't play nice with some routers. Not sure if it is a bug in
> Vista, a bug in Messenger or a bug in the router firmware but anyway this
> looks like a possible workaround that might help other people who have the
> same problem. BTW I have a NetGear DG834
>
> Try this:
> - Click start
> - Type: cmd
> - Right-click cmd.exe when it appears under Applications
> - Click Run As Administrator
> - Type the following: netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
> - Press enter
> - Restart your computer
>
> To check autotuning is disabled repeat the above but type: netsh int tcp
> show global
>
> ------------------------------------
>