And is your Norton subscription ran out... just uninstall it. You can get just as good security for free.

Some links to some software that he could use would be helpful

Hi Drakelord,

Good idea. Just as a FYI, anyone with a GameXbar (like the UO Toolbar, DAoCXbar, LOTROXbar, MMOXbar, WARXbar, WoWXbar, etc.) installed has a full safety menu at their fingertips all the time. Almost any security app I or anyone else would recommend, is already categorized in the Safety menu (if you have one installed, take a look).

But for those that don't, here is kind of a home-brew security suite that can be done with free software:

• Anti spyware: SpyBot - Search & Destroy.
• Anti phishing: McAfee SiteAdvisor.
• Anti virus: avast!, AntiVir, or AVG. People squabble over which one is the best, but honestly... all three of them are great. Pick only one.
• Alternative browser: Mozilla Firefox. All browsers are good, so long as they are kept consistently up to date. Just that with FF being updated more often, automatically as it's own app, and the best extensions... pushes it above the others.
• Alternative email: Mozilla Thunderbird. The Firefox of email. If you already have Outlook 2003 or 2007, or as a Vista user have Windows Mail, use those. But if you're (anyone here) using XP and still using Outlook Express (or Outlook XP/2000, 97 and older)... STOP using it. Use a modern, secure email client.
• Firewall: This is trickier, so nothing is written in stone... just general rules of thumb. If you're on dialup, you need a software firewall... Comodo Firewall Pro Free or ZoneAlarm® Firewall. If you have broadband (cable, DSL, FiOS), depends if your modem/network has a router. If it's just a basic broadband modem (no extra LAN ports, no WiFi), you likely do not have a hardware firewall... get one of the software firewalls (above or from a GameXbar safety menu). If your broadband modem does have that stuff (like extra LAN ports, a WiFi antenna, or your have a seperate router), than you likely do have a hardware firewall... use that hardware firewall -and- the Windows software firewall built into XP SP2 and Vista, that'll get the job done fine. This is for entertainment purposes, batteries not included, and your mileage may vary... meaning the reality depends on your individual PC, ISP, & network configs.
• Instant messanging: ZoneLabs IMsecure (for XP only), secures your IM app (AIM/ICQ, MSNM/WLM, YIM, even Trillian). I know this is going to start a fight, but... no, ICQ is not safe. None of them are, but ICQ is the least safe. A Vista user, just use Trillian (a multi-IM client that supports the others, more secure client and better encryption).
• Memory protection: Comodo Memory Firewall, protects your system RAM from buffer overflow attacks.

There are other choices, and additional protections in the safety menu. Depends on what one needs, and how technical they want to get. I intentionally left tools like the often recommended HiJackThis and registry cleaners out of the the safety menu... as a lot of novice users get in trouble with them, end borking their Windows Registry, and then have to reformat/reinstall or taking their system to a repair shop.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the further info. I have also tried disabling Norton, which again didn't work. Also have set it so that UO is allowed to run. My subscription has not ran out yet, so I presume it's not worth installing some of the progs you have suggested, Nok?

And yes, everything else is running 100% fine. Sorry for the constant questions, I'm !!!! with computers!

Ta.

I too run KR and 2D on Vista with no problems. Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the UO client? Sometimes that works. (My first thought was ports being blocked on your firewall, but that has already been mentioned!) Good luck!

Hi Romie,

Actually if your Norton subscription hasn't run out yet... keep running it then. Sounds like you have one of the Norton suites, which would pretty much cover everything.

Sounds like you've gone through most of the most obvious things to check. Even whitelisting UO in Norton's firewall (your PC's software firewall). Check the PC and running UO in the other room means it's not a network/hardware firewall/port blocking issue through the university's network. It's your PC... either the UO install is borked, the networking protocols and/or sockets on your PC are borked misconfigured... blocking the socket or port that UO needs.

I hate to tell you this... your PC needs a break/fix technician. Basically they need to reconfigure your networking, or uninstall your networking, reboot, and reinstall the networking over the top of itself (not a task for the novice). Tech'ing over a forum is kind of a process of elimination... and the OS' networking looks to be the culprit.

Does the university have PC technicians that will help students? Or you may need a professional who can pull this off.

Hope that helps.

Many thanks. The Uni does indeed have techies here to help, which is indeed an option I might take up. Thanks again!

Good luck Romie, please post back what happens. It'll be good to know your PC gets fixed and you're able to play again.

Cheers mate will do! although I've decided to leave it till after my exams now, don't wanna bugger up this year so I'm gonna wait till 4th June! Cheers!

Ya that's right, finals are coming up for a lot of people. Good luck on finals.