How To Get Messenger File Transfers Working

How To Get Messenger File Transfers Working by Kungfucious
(Windows ME & XP compatible tip; NOT for WIndows2000*)

Did your messenger file transfers used to work before you beefed up your home PC security. Get yourself a firewall/Router? Then you're probably experiencing the UPnP blues!

Most modern firewalls come equipted with something called UPnP (Universal Plug and Play support). Since your firewall/Router translates the single IP of your connection into many smaller internal IP's, when you use messenger to connect outwards it refuses the connection because it tries to use the internal IPs instead. This is where the genious of UPnP comes in.

By turning UPnP on, you allow your hardware to literally sense when a connection needs to be made externally, and then it opens up a port for a short period of time to allow access.

So how do you activate it?

1. Go into your control Panel.
2. Start up Add/Remove programs
3. On the left will be Add/Remove windows components.
4. Find Networking Services and click to see its individual installed components.
5. Normally there are 4 (you may have more). Check the box for UPnP, (usually the fourth one).
6. If your router supports UPnP**, your computer will automatically see that you are using a gateway to reach the internet.

Pure and simple.. Now you can use transfers just like before! Sweet!

KF

*Windows 2000 does not ship with UPnp support, check microsofts site for updates.
** Yor router may support UPnP but you may also
a) have to update your Router/firewall drivers/firmware
enable the router/firewall support within its own software.


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