i need some help

[zachrs]

So I just moved into a new apartment that offers free high speed internet, surfing works fine but I have trouble when I try to use peer to peer programs. 

I'm only half way able to understand the problem, but all the ports I try to use for it come up closed.  The faq suggested I try port forwarding but the only help I could find for that seems to be if I have a router, which I don't. 

I'm not sure if I need to give any more info or what info would be needed, but any help I could get would be greatly appreciated.

[Jonas Wauters]

Well you're OS would be handy.
Uh it could be that the one who gives the free Internet. (true a router)
Can set the firewall of the router so you can't use Peer to peer prog.
In that case you just need to ask the person who controls the router to adjust the router settings.

Jonas

[WillyW]

So I just moved into a new apartment that offers free high speed internet,
...

Describe the free high speed internet service, please.   

Also, is it wireless?

[zachrs]

I use windows xp, the free internet isn't wireless, it's through an ethernet cord.

[WillyW]

I use windows xp, the free internet isn't wireless, it's through an ethernet cord.

I suspect that your landlord has a router somewhere in the building.


You said you could surf the web.   Try this:

Go to:  http://www.whatismyip.com          and  note your ip.
Next,   see:  http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000483.htm
and use the command described there to get your computer to report its ip.

Compare them.

Are they different?     I think they will be.       That would mean that there is a router between you and the rest of the world.   
That router would be providing the ip that your computer reported to you.
On the other side of that router,  the ip is that which is assigned to the router by the isp.   That's what that website would see and report.

Post back here and let us know if they were different.      (There is no need to post the ip that the website reported)

[zachrs]

you're right, they are different. so what do i need to do from here?

[WillyW]

you're right, they are different. so what do i need to do from here?

I think we are back to your original post, but with more info now.

"....  The faq suggested I try port forwarding but the only help I could find for that seems to be if I have a router, which I don't.  ..."


I think we've proven you are behind a router.   
That FAQ you read was probably correct,  in that for those programs to work properly,  one or more ports need to be forwarded.
Therefore,  you'd need to get access to that router and do that.
I know - -   that is probably not the answer you wanted to hear.   

If your landlord will allow you to access the router,  you'd need the model number etc.    Then you check your FAQ site for instructions.    Also check
www.portforward.com -  very well covered there.

To access my DSL modem/router,   I just use a web browser and go to:
http://192.168.1.1
To configure it,  I need the  username and password for my router.     You can expect to need that for yours too.

If I were you,  I would not get my hopes up.    I doubt the landlord will allow  it.       How about if everyone that is connected through that router were to start doing a lot of downloading? ....  the service to all would come to a crawl.


Whether or not there are any work-arounds for a situation like yours,  I don't know.   I'm not that much of a router guru.   
Perhaps somebody else reading along here can jump in now.     If I've overlooked something,   this would be a good time for them to get in here and advise you.

By the way,   whatever software you are using -   does it have its own forum(s)?     Check the website for the software.
If so,   you can't be the only person in the world with your circumstances.
Maybe - just maybe -   somebody else would have discussed it and proposed a solution.      It's worth a shot. 

[WillyW]

you're right, they are different.

When you used the ipconfig command,   did that ip address come back with something like     192.168.x.x   ?

[WillyW]

... but all the ports I try to use for it come up closed.   ...

Forgot to ask -   how were you doing this test?   


And,  have you also checked with:  https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
You can get a report on open/closed ports at that site.

[zachrs]

utorrent has its own port checker.  I'm going to try speaking with the people at the complex and find out who I have to talk to for all of this stuff.  Thanks for all of your help, if anyone gets any other ideas please let me know.

[WillyW]

utorrent has its own port checker.

I use it sometimes.    Not a current version though.    I found that its little built in port check did agree with the info from the Shields Up site.   But there is much more info available there.
 
As a matter of fact,  I recently used utorrent to download Open Office.   I mention it now,  because that download would be an excellent one for you to do your testing with.     I remember that it came in at a rate that was almost equal to the max provided by my service.   
If you want to grab the torrent,  go to:   http://download.openoffice.org/2.2.1/index.html

If you are doing illegitimate downloads,  it is a crap shoot.     Much harder to know if your system is set up correctly.

I'm going to try speaking with the people at the complex and find out who I have to talk to for all of this stuff.  Thanks for all of your help, if anyone gets any other ideas please let me know.

Best of luck with it.     Let us know what happens.

[WillyW]

utorrent has its own port checker.  ...

Don't forget,  it has   http://forum.utorrent.com/     too.