Hoping someone can give me a hand on this one.

I have two computers, a PC and a laptop, both running WinXP pro. The PC is connected via DSL; the laptop uses dialup.

I have about 8 or 9 sites that I regularly connect to via WS FTP Pro version 7.04. There is no problem on the desktop PC. However, the laptop fails to connect to ANY of them, giving the same error: "Cannot connect".

I have double checked all the settings I can find in the program and they appear to be identical. The laptop connects fine to the internet; I have a regular ISP dialup account and a prepaid online account, and both of these connect and I can access internet and get mail with either account on the laptop.

The laptop is not running any firewall of any kind.

The laptop IS running Norton Antivirus, as is the desktop. I can't think of any other particulars, but that is the situation.

I need to be able to use the laptop to FTP when I'm traveling as I maintain several websites, and it's aggravating that it won't work.

Does anyone have ANY ideas I can try??? Goin nuts here!

Can you FTP using Internet Explorer.

No firewall? Have you check for virus/trojans...

You could also try reinstalling WS FTP Pro.
FYI - I have noticed that with the later versions
of XP's SP2, - WS FTP Pro version 8 doesn't want to work on my system.


richardc

There are no viruses; it's clean.

I'm not sure I know HOW to FTP with the browser, have always just used the program. Give me some instructions and I'll try this out of curiosity.

I will try reinstalling as a LAST resort as I'm tenacious and curious enough to want to figure this out if possible.

Just type in the TCP/IP address in the Address box.

I have the feeling there's a little more to it than that. I have a host name, a userid and a password. If I put the hostname in the browser window, it takes me to the host home page.

I have to go out for several hours, but hope someone can shed some light on this while I'm gone.

Check this out:
http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/webmanager/ftptutorial.htm

THANKS!! I'll try this out tomorrow and post back.

Just pick one that you can get in anonymously.

ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/

(Just don't try microsoft's site with Mozilla :blusher: ).

OK, YES! I can ftp in with the browser, so it would appear there is some setting or problem with WTS FTP Pro. Anyone have ANY ideas on that?? I tried their site, but their knowledgebase is pretty pitiful. I'd submit a ticket, but normally when there is a KB that pitiful, "support" is likewise pitiful.

I have the LE version but it shouldn't be that different (maybe). I've found it to be exceedingly tempermental where case is concerned. However, having the wrong case, either small or large typed incorrectly, doesn't return a "Cannot Connect" message. The only way I can get "Cannot Connect" is to block it with my firewall.

Jim.

FWIW, installed 8.03 Pro on XP SP1 & it works fine (quirky IMO, but fine).

Do you have it set to use dial-up rather then LAN for your connection.
Verify that site address, username/password (if needed), & port numbers are correct.

Rube, all the settings seem correct.

However, what do you mean have it set up for dial-up instead of LAN?? Where is there any setting for that???? Please advise! That could be the problem if I could find that setting.

I'm really frustrated now. I uninstalled and reinstalled the program, and the same thing happens. I don't even get any numbered error message, it just comes up right away "cannot connect".

If ANYbody has any ideas, I'd sure appreciate them. Will be away from the puter until tomorrow, but definitely hoping someone has SOME idea why I have connectivity but cannot use WS FTP Pro. If all else fails, I'll submit a ticket, but I know that's going to be a waste of my time.

Jenna -- first off, does the laptop have a NIC installed? If so, temporarily connect it through the DSL modem and see if WS_FTP connects...

Also -- in WS_FTP, make sure that you have the "Automatic Detect" option selected for the "Host Type". This can be found on the "Advanced" tab of the "Advanced Properties" sheet for each connection defined. One other thing to try would be to increase the "Network Timeout" and "Keep Alive" values on the same tab.

"dial-up rather then LAN for your connection"

I no longer have WSFTP (reformatted Windows), though it was one of the "preference" settings. Just like in Internet Explorer, you can have the connection set for Dial-up or not (if you were connected via broadband forinstance). Thinking that if it were set to LAN in WSFTP, it might be missing your connection & just returning "cannot connect".

Chris, this laptop has an internal NIC card, but it has NEVER worked. I have never connected via LAN/DSL with it, always use dialup. The "automatic detect" option IS checked for host type. I haven't had a chance today to try fiddling with the timeout settings, but I will try this.

Rube, I totally don't get where there is a setting in WS FTP Pro to connect with dialup or LAN; can you be more specific where you're finding this setting??? The laptop IS connecting to internet via dialup and I CAN get mail and access the internet, but I am totally unable to connect with WS FTP Pro. Please tell me where there is a setting in WS FTP Pro to connect via dialup or LAN.

Under Options / Program options / General tab is setting for either.

There is no "options, program options, general". I'm using version 7.04. There is a Tools, Options, but from there my choices are: General, Convert, Extensions, Logging, Advanced. From those choices, I find noplace with a setting for "either".

OK, here's an update to the situation:

As a troubleshooting method, I disabled Norton and tried again: same thing.

As a further troubleshooting step, I downloaded and installed a trial version of Cute FTP Pro to rule out a problem with WS FTP Pro (which I uninstalled and reinstalled to no avail): Cute FTP Pro will not connect, either, giving "error 10061: no socket error".

This leads me to believe there's something wrong on the laptop, or else there is some setting that is not correct. I'm using port 21, as the program advised, and the settings are identical within WS FTP Pro on both machines (laptop and PC).

Does anyone have any ideas??????? This is most frustrating!

From the WS_FTP Support Site -- Error 10061:

WSAECONNREFUSED - Error 10061
Product: Version: Platform:
ALL ALL ALL

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

Question/Problem: WSAECONNREFUSED (10061) Connection refused

Answer/Solution: Connection refused. No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it. This usually results from trying to connect to a service that is inactive on the foreign host.

User suggestions: Either you went to the wrong host, or the server application you're trying to contact isn't executing. Check the destination address you are using. If you used a hostname, did it resolve to the correct address? If the hostname resolution uses a local hosttable, it's possible you resolved to an old obsolete address. It's also possible that the local services file has an incorrect port number (although it's unlikely).

Document #: Revision Date:
WSK-19980709-EM01 04/08/04

I have NINE (9) ftp accounts that I access. I cannot connect to ANY of the 9 accounts using the laptop, although it DOES have internet connectivity. The host information on each of the 9 accounts is identical in every way to the same accounts that I AM able to access using the same WS FTP Pro version that's on my PC. I have checked and double checked the usernames and passwords; it is highly unlikely that all nine of these accounts are configured incorrectly.

There is some OTHER problem here, obviously.

I'm running Vers. 7.61 so I guess there have been some changes. See if this works ??



Could be better, but....... :D

Wow, I don't have ANY setting anyplace that gives me these options. I'm screwed, methinks!!

Although, it still wouldn't explain why I also can't connect with the other program, Cute FTP.

OK -- does the desktop PC have a modem? If so, try this...

Disconnect the desktop PC from the DSL for a bit and run a dial-up session with your dial-up ISP. Then, while connected, launch WS_FTP on the desktop and see if it connects to the site(s) in question.

Well, I'm not sure what that's supposed to prove, but yes, my desktop connects and I can FTP from ALL 9 accounts--using the same ISP connection as the laptop--without any problems.

I still think the laptop is the problem; there is some funky setting someplace that's the culprit. Yet, as I've said before, it HAS connectivity: I can access internet, I can FTP through the browser, and I can get email.

I think I should just sell this bloody laptop; it's possessed!

Going to bed; if anyone has any other ideas, I'd sure appreciate it. I know that there is a configuration issue somewhere on this laptop, but I don't have the first clue where it could be.

You have double checked that ICF is disabled haven't you? I've never used ICF, but ftp can be a little funky with firewalls. Network Connections>right-click your dialup connection>Properties>Advanced.

Bob, see #0 above.

>Well, I'm not sure what that's supposed to prove, but yes, my
>desktop connects and I can FTP from ALL 9 accounts--using the
>same ISP connection as the laptop--without any problems.
>

The intent of attempting the connection via dialup on the desktop PC was to verify that the ISP was not blocking the connection, IOW that the problem was specific to that laptop and not something beyond your control.

Will WS_FTP on the laptop connect if you use the IP address of the site rather than the domain name of the site? If you don't know the site's IP address, it can easily be obtained by running the ping command at a command prompt. For example, ping yahoo.com returns an IP Address of 66.218.71.113 for that domain name. Obtain the IP Addresses of the sites in question and attempt to connect using them instead of the domain names, and then post back with the results.

Chris, 5 of the 9 sites I regularly FTP into DO use IP addresses, the other 4 use hostnames. NONE will connnect.

Real mystery, eh?

OK -- next question -- were either of the dial-up services on the laptop set up via a customized install routine, or did you simply set up a WinXP dial-up object for each of them?

Do either of those service use their own interface software the way AOl, NetZero, or MSN do? Is there a customized browser installed? Or, are you strictly using WinXP dial-up functions and IE for accessing these ISP's?

Chris, neither are a customized CD-based install, they were manually installed dial-ups. There are TWO dialups with my local ISP, which connnections were made manually; both work to access internet and email. The third connection is via Prepaidonline, and it also works to connect to the internet and email.

OK -- in that case, I would probably suggest a repair of the TCP/IP stack as the next step... try this and post back... :)

Chris, at work right now, but will definitely try this later today and post back! Hope that works...I'm about ready to flip the whole thing into the garbage can...

Check back later for results.

OK, Chris, reset/repaired TCP/IP stack per instructions: same sympton, "cannot connect" to any FTP sites. x(

Bump.

Try doing a Winsock fix and see if it helps:

STEP 1:
First obtain a fresh WINSOCK2 key using regedit...
1. Run REGEDIT
2. Browse to and highlight the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
3. Click FILE -> LOAD HIVE
4. Browse to the folder WINDOWS\REPAIR
5. Select the file "SYSTEM" and click OPEN
6. In the LOAD HIVE window, for KEY NAME type "123TEST" (without the quotes)
7. Browse to and highlight the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\123TEST\ControlSet001\Services\Winsock2
8. Click on FILE -> EXPORT...
9. Name the exported key WINSOCKFIX and save it to the Desktop
10. Close REGEDIT

STEP 2:
This new registry patch file must be modified somewhat before we import it into the registry.
1. Right click the file WINSOCKFIX on the Desktop
2. Select EDIT
3. In NOTEPAD, click on EDIT -> REPLACE...
4. In the REPLACE window, enter the following without the quotes exactly as shown (this is CASE SENSITIVE)
Find what: "123TEST\ControlSet001"
Replace with: "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet"
5. Click REPLACE ALL.
6. Once NOTEPAD has completed the Replace operation, close the REPLACE window.
7. Click FILE -> SAVE
8. Close NOTEPAD

STEP 3:
To import the fresh WINSOCK2 key into the system's registry, double-click on the WINSOCKFIX.REG file on the desktop, and answer YES when prompted to merge the key into the Registry. Then restart Windows XP.

Let us know if this helps... :)

Wow, this looks ugly!! I will try this when I get home this evening. Thanks! Will let you know what happens.

OK, Chris, went through the entire process (and your directions were impeccable, BTW), rebooted machine: exact same error.

What next? There HAS to be a reason for this...

Has WSFTP ever worked on this computer?

Try a different FTP program & see if that works.

Here's one.

Filezilla
<http://sourceforge.net/projects/filezilla>
FileZilla_2_2_7.zip

Read #20 above...............................

Bump. Looks like I may have stumped the band. I hate when that happens.

What is the file info (date, time, size, version) for the following files on your system?

• winsock.dll
  
• wsock32.dll

Chris, you're an angel...you just keep trying!! I hope you hit on something to solve this riddle. The info is:

winsock.dll: 2,864 bytes ver. 3.10.0.103 8/23/2001 9:00am

wsock32.dll: 21,504 bytes ver. 5.1.2600.0 8/23/2001 9:00am

Boy, you now have everything I got except my bust size and DNA sample, LOL!!

OK -- the files appear to be the proper files for WinXP. However, what I'd like you to do is to use MSCONFIG to replace those two files with new copies. Restart afterwards and let us know what happens...

Oh -- and be sure to post bust size here, and forward the DNA sample to me via snail mail... :)

Kerfooey, I'll have to wait until I get home tonight; I have the laptop with me at work, but no CDs.

:)

No problem -- if you'd like, you can download XPWSOCK.ZIP at the link below. Extract the two files to a suitable location and install them from that location. MSCONFIG will allow you to browse to the source file location for this purpose...

XPWSOCK.ZIP -- ftp://chris-tech.com/pub/xpwsock.zip

Wow, you got all the connections, Chris! Unfortunately, as you recall, this is the IBM laptop that has NO floppy or CD ROM, and I didn't bring the USB-to-USB cable with me, so I'll have to wait til I get home and can transfer it off one machine onto the other.

People, NEVER buy an IBM Thinkpad laptop with no floppy or CD...it ain't worth the hassle!

"Try a different FTP program & see if that works"

???

Ahem... See #20 above.

Yes, I see you tried a different version of WSFTP, though how about a totally different FTP program.

Given that you can connect & operate on the Internet, & given that you were able to FTP using IE, I really don't think that winsock & all that is where the problem lies.

Something that may be blocking you? Anti-virus, firewall, router, zonealarm, spybot, HOST file, anything that my in some fasion be locking down your PC.

I know you have mentioned these items before, but just throwing them out again as reminders.

I am sure that you have tried your selected ftp sites, but have you tried other anonymous sites also?

Are you able to connect your laptop through your desktop (or through a router if you have one) to see if maybe it will work that way.

Rube, unless I miss my guess, the program Cute FTP is a separate FTP program from WS FTP Pro, isn't it? Anyway, that one doesn't connect, either.

Additionally, I am able to FTP with this laptop via a browser, so it would not appear that anything IS blocking the laptop from using FTP, but there IS something blocking it from using FTP with a program such as WS FTP Pro or Cute FTP. I don't have any way of connecting it to my DSL connection as the internal nic doesn't work, nor has it ever worked (there was an extensive thread on this forum some months back in a futile attempt to get that thing going--it failed). Dialup is its only method of connection.

I am not running a firewall. I do not have Spybot or any such programs running. I have disabled my virus protection and still it will not connect.

I know there is some configuration issue on the laptop itself causing this curious problem. I'm on my way home shortly to try Chris' last suggestion and will post back.

"have you tried other anonymous sites"

ftp://ftp.vim.org
ftp://ftp.netscape.com
ftp://ftp.ipswitch.com
ftp://ftp.simtel.net

I can connect to these via web browser, just can't connect with FTP program.

Are you using the WinXP Internet Connection Firewall?

"To enable or disable Internet Connection Firewall

Open Network Connections
Click the Dial-up, LAN or High-Speed Internet connection that you want to protect, and then, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection.
On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, select one of the following:
To enable Internet Connection Firewall (ICF), select the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box.
To disable Internet Connection Firewall, clear the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box.
Notes

To open Network Connections, click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections."

See #0 and #54.

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Internet Options
Advanced tab | Browsing | Use Passive FTP

Uncheck if checked. Check if unchecked. And try again.

Also in there is "Enable folder view for FTP sites"

And you are not using a proxy or VPN.

Does CuteFTP return the same 10061 error message for every site attempted, or does the message vary depending up the site.

It was UNchecked. I checked it: same error.

I can't take it anymore...I'm going to have some wine and crawl off to bed. Thanks for trying to help, guyz and galz!

Any other ideas, feel free to post; I'll check tomorrow.

I know it's something on this damned machine...

Did it ever have a firewall installed?

Jim.

I don't believe it ever did, no. On my PC I'm running Zone Alarm, but only use the laptop when traveling, so never used one on it as connection time is minimal.

However, the reason this is so frustrating is because it's when I'm traveling with it that I NEED to be able to use FTP; I maintain some websites that I regularly FTP into, and WS FTP Pro is the fastest and best program for that purpose.

This annoys me enough to get rid of this laptop.

Is your Windows XP an upgrade?

Jim.

Yes; it was on 2k. Since this laptop has its OS on a partition on the HDD, I opted to upgrade it because the nightmare of the fact that it has no floppy or CD was too much of a headache. I have an external USB CD-Rom that I upgraded it to XP, with no problems. However, again since there is no CD on the machine itself, reformatting it from scratch is a real pain in the a$$...I went through it once, and it was a nightmare. Never again: always buy the machine with floppy and CD!!!

No, I wasn't suggesting a reinstall. In the WS_FTP knowledge base there is an article related to upgrading to XP, but in the end it leads to the "cure" The Rube" listed in #59 above. So as long as you checked the setting is correct, this is a dead end.

It was supposed to be cured in WS_FTP 7.0 but you're not running Netsonic are you?

Anyway, here's the link to the WS_FTP knowledgebase: http://jabba.ipswitch.com/query.html?col=kb+wsftpug+imlguide+wugguide+ftpsrvug+iimguide&qp=&qs=&qc=kb+wsftpug+imlguide+wugguide+ftpsrvug+iimguide&pw=100%25&ws=0&fs=&qt=%22cannot+connect%22+|+ws_ftp&qm=0&template=kb&st=21&nh=10&lk=1&rf=0
(You'll need to copy and paste the entire URL. Steve's PCQnA_html can't handle the "pipe".) You may have seen it already. Doesn't seem to be anything new but if you haven't, give it a quick once over.

Jim.

No, not running Netsonic.

Yes, I was at their knowledgebase but didn't find anything pertinent on this weird problem. I'm pretty sure the reason is because it isn't a problem with WS FTP Pro at all, it's a problem on this LAPTOP. I have had strange problems with it throughout the time I've had it, none of them documented anywhere. It's been very frustrating, to say the least.

Jeez, I want to thank all you people for doggedly trying to solve this. I just hate being defeated by a machine. I know there has to be a reason why this bloody thing won't work, and it's extremely curious since I obviously have connectivity with the machine. Even more curious, I CAN use FTP with the browser. Compounding the mystery: I have tried TWO different FTP programs with the same result. I still say there is a configuration issue on this laptop, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to admit defeat as there doesn't seem to be any logical reason why it won't connect. It's weird, usually there is a pause with FTP and some codes that go flashing by; with this laptop, there is NOTHING, no hesitation at all, just boom: 'CANNOT CONNECT'.

Don't forget to take the laptop home with you.}( :+

Very funny Lil, Joe. :evilgrin:

Tried the new dlls: same freaking error.


ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!