If you are not able to download files from anyone there are several things you can check that could be causing the problem. Please follow these steps in order to fix the problem.

Step 1

Option 1
If you are uncomfortable performing advanced configuration of your computer and equipment, or if you are on an education or company network and you don't have administrator access do the following:

   a. All versions of WinMX
     i. Open WinMX
     ii. Click the Settings button
     iii. Click the plus sign in front of Internet Connection.
     iv. You should now see a new list drop down under Internet Connection.
     v. In this new list click on Incoming TCP Connections.
     vi. Select Unable to accept incoming TCP Connections.
     vii. Click the In/Out UDP Packets
     viii. Select Unable to send or receive UDP datagrams on any port.
     ix. Close WinMX and continue to Step 5

OR

Option 2
If you have administrator access for your computer/network and you are comfortable with making changes to your router configuration then define specific ports for WinMX to use:

   a. All versions of WinMX
     i. Open WinMX
     ii. Click the Settings button
     iii. Click the plus sign in front of Internet Connection.
     iv. You should now see a new list drop down under Internet Connection.
     v. In this new list click on Incoming TCP Connections.
     vi. Select "Listen on port"
     vii. Enter 6699 in the box
     viii. Click the In/Out UDP Packets
     ix. Select "Listen on port"
     x. Enter 6257 in the box
     xi. Open WinMX and test your downloads from a good source. If you still are unable to download continue to Step 2.

Step 2

Check if you have a router or modem/router combination. Choose your Operating System and follow the instructions below:

   a. Windows Vista
     i. Click Start
     ii. Click "All Programs".
     iii. Click "Accessories"
     iv. Click "Command Prompt"
     v. In the new command window type ipconfig and press enter.
     vi. Information will be shown concerning your local area connection.
     vii. Look for the entry called IP Address.
     viii. If the IP address is in any of the following ranges it is considered a private address which are reserved for use on internal networks. This would normally indicate the presence of a router.

          10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255
          172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255
          192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255


   b. Windows XP, 2000, ME, and 98
     i. Click Start
     ii. Click Run
     iii. Type command and click OK
     iv. In the new command window type ipconfig and press enter.
     v. Information will be shown concerning your local area connection.
     vi. Look for the entry called IP Address.
     vii. If the IP address is in any of the following ranges it is considered a private address which are reserved for use on internal networks. This would normally indicate the presence of a router.

           10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255
           172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255
           192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255



If you have a router continue to Step 3
If you do not have a router skip to Step 5

Step 3

Set a static IP for your computer. This step is not required, but it is highly recommended. Follow the instructions below for your Operating System:


   a. Windows Vista
     i. Go to Start - All Programs - Run
     ii. In the new Command window type: ipconfig /all
     iii. WRITE DOWN your IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Servers
     iv. Open Control Panel and switch to Classic View.
     v. Double click "Network and Sharing Center"
     vi. Click on View Status next to Local Area Connection (or the name of your current network connection).
     vii. Click on the Properties button.
     viii. Click on "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and then click on the Properties button.
     ix. Click the "Use the following IP Address". (Note if this is already selected a Static IP is already configured).
     x. Enter the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Servers you wrote down above.
[20:54:13] »»»» (If you only have one DNS Server leave the second box blank).
     xi. Click OK on both windows to apply the settings.
     xii. Open any website to verify the settings are working. If there is a problem, revert your settings back to obtain an IP address and DNS server automatically.

   b. Windows XP
     i. Go to Start - Run - Type command – OK
     ii. In the new Command window type: ipconfig /all
     iii. WRITE DOWN your IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Servers
     iv. Open Control Panel and switch to Classic View.
     v. Double click "Network Connections".
     vi. Right click on the network connection that you use to connect to the internet and select "Properties".
     vii. Highlight "Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)" and then click the "Properties" button.
     viii. Click the "Use the following IP Address". (Note if this is already selected a Static IP is already configured. Skip to Step 4).
     ix. Enter the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Servers you wrote down above. (If you only have one DNS Server leave the second box blank).
     x. Click OK to apply the settings.
     xi. Open any website to verify the settings are working. If there is a problem revert your settings back to obtain an IP address and DNS server automatically.

   c. Windows 2000
     i. Go to Start - Run - Type command – OK
     ii. In the new Command window type: ipconfig /all
     iii. WRITE DOWN your IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Servers
     iv. Open Control Panel.
     v. Double click "Network and Dial-up Connections".
     vi. Right click on the network connection that you use to connect to the internet and select "Properties".
     vii. Highlight "Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)" and then click the "Properties" button.
     viii. Click the "Use the following IP Address". (Note if this is already selected a Static IP is already configured. Skip to Step 4).
     ix. Enter the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Servers you wrote down above. (If you only have one DNS Server leave the second box blank).
     x. Click OK to apply the settings.
     xi. Open any website to verify the settings are working. If there is a problem revert your settings back to obtain an IP address and DNS server automatically.

   d. Windows ME and 98
     i. Go to Start - Run - Type command – OK
     ii. In the new Command window type: ipconfig /all
     iii. WRITE DOWN your IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Servers.
     iv. Right click "Network Connections" on your desktop and then click properties.
     v. Under "The following components are installed" look for TCP/IP. Highlight it and then click "Properties".
     vi. Click "Use the following IP Address". (Note if this is already selected a Static IP is already configured. Skip to Step 4).
     vii. Enter the IP address and subnet mask that you wrote down above.
     viii. Click the "Gateway" tab.
     ix. Enter the Default Gateway you wrote down above and then click Add.
     x. Click the "DNS Configuration" Tab.
     xi. Click "Enable DNS".
     xii. Enter your host name and domain.
     xiii. Under "DNS Server Search Order" add the IP address of the DNS Server you wrote down above and then click Add.
     xiv. If you wrote down more than one DNS Server, enter the second number and click Add.
     xv. Click OK to apply the settings.
     xvi. Reboot if prompted.
     xvii. Open any website to verify the settings are working. If there is a problem revert your settings back to obtain an IP address and DNS server automatically.


Continue to Step 4

Step 4

Portforward the router for WinMX. Choose your router make and model from the list on the following page: Port-forwarding Tutorial **Note: Do not select the ad for PFConfig unless you wish to pay for a third-party program to do it automatically for you. You can do this process yourself for free.**

   a. For all routers
     i. Fill in the boxes on the page like so:
     ii. WinMX's port for incoming TCP connections: 6699
     iii. WinMX's port for incoming UDP connections: 6257
     iv. Enter the IP you want to forward to: Use the IP address you set for your computer in Step 3.
     v. The rest of the blanks on the page will fill in automatically, showing you exactly how to set up portforwarding for WinMX in your router. Follow the instructions you are given.


When you have finished the portforwarding process, open WinMX and try to download from a good source. If you still are unable to download continue to Step 5.

Step 5

Check your firewall to ensure WinMX is not being blocked.

   a. Windows Firewall (applies to Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista)
     i. Click Start
     ii. Select Settings
     iii. Click Control Panel
     iv. Double-click Windows Firewall [Note: If you are using the Category view, click on Security Center to find Windows Firewall]
     v. Make sure "Don't allow exceptions" is NOT ticked.
     vi. Click the tab that says "Exceptions"
     vii. Click “Add Program”
     viii. Select WinMX
     ix. Click OK

   b. Norton Internet Security 2004
     i. Double-click on the Norton Internet Security icon in your system tray, located in the lower-right hand corner of the screen.
     ii. Select Personal Firewall.
     iii. Select the Programs tab.
     iv. Under Manual Program Control, select and highlight WinMX and click Modify.
     v. Under “What do you want to do”, select Permit.
     vi. Click OK and then click OK again.
     vii. Click the X in the upper-right hand corner of the window to close Norton Internet Security.

   c. Norton Internet Security 2005
     i. Double-click the Norton Internet Security icon in your systems tray
     ii. Click Personal Firewall
     iii. Click Configure
     iv. Select the Programs tab
     v. Locate WinMX from the programs list
Note: If WinMX is not on the list skip ahead to step ix
     vi. Click the Internet Access setting
     vii. Select Permit All
     viii. Click OK
     ix. Click Add
     x. Select the WinMX folder
Note: Default location is C:\\Program Files\WinMX\
     xi. Select winmx.exe
     xii. Click Open
     xiii. From the dropdown list, select Permit
     xiv. Click OK
     xv. Click the Internet Access setting
     xvi. Select Permit All
     xvii. Click OK

   d. Sygate Firewall
     i. Double-click on the Sygate Firewall icon in the task tray to open the settings.
     ii. Click the Applications tab
     iii. Look for WinMX Application in the list of programs.
     iv. Click the box to the left of WinMX Application until a check mark appears
     v. Click OK
     vi. Click the X in the upper-right hand corner of the window to close Sygate Personal Firewall.

   e. McAfee Security Firewall
     i. Open the McAfee Security Firewall program
     ii. Control Internet Programs
     iii. Click Add
     iv. Locate 'WinMX', from the directory
Note: Normal path for WinMX is: C:\Program Files\WinMX\winmx.exe
     v. Click Open
     vi. Click the circle next to Allow this program to have full, unfiltered access to the Internet
     vii. Click Apply
     viii. Click the red X at the top right to close the program

   f. McAfee Personal Firewall Plus
     i. Start the McAfee Personal Firewall Plus Program
     ii. Click New Allowed Application
     iii. The Select Application to Allow box will appear
     iv. From the dropdown menu select the WinMX folder
Note: Default location is C:\program files\WinMX\WinMX.exe
     v. Select WinMX
     vi. Click Open
     vii. Locate the file from the Internet Applications list
     viii. Click on the Permissions
     ix. Select Allow Full Access
     x. Click the red X at the top right to close the window

   g. Zone Alarm
     i. Start the ZoneAlarm Firewall program.
     ii. Click Program Control from the left side, yellow menu.
     iii. Click the Programs tab under the Help button.
     iv. Within the Programs window you will notice that there are two columns; One for Access and one for Server. In addition, there are two separate settings for each; One for Trusted and one for Internet. Furthermore, there will need to be one of three options selected for each setting; Allow (shown as a green check mark), Block (shown as a red X), and Ask (shown as a blue ?).
     v. Locate WinMX and single click in the setting under Trusted and select Allow.
     vi. Repeat the above step under the Internet setting.(There should now be two green check marks under the Access setting.
     vii. Click the X in the upper-right hand corner of the window to close ZoneAlarm.
     viii. The next time you run the program, you will have to click Allow to let WinMX access the Internet.

   h. Other Firewall Programs
     i. Go to your firewall's settings option.
     ii. Look for a list of applications that are allowed or prevented access to the Internet.
     iii. Look for WinMX. If it is blocked or prevented access to the Internet, select it and change its setting to be allowed access.
     iv. Save your changes and restart your firewall program.



Restart WinMX and try to download from a good source again. If you are still unable to download continue to Step 6.

Step 6

If you have a network with more than one computer running WinMX repeat Steps 1 though 5 on the other computers and assign different ports for them to use.

For example:
   Computer 1 TCP 6699 UDP 6257
   Computer 2 TCP 16699 UDP 16257
   Computer 3 TCP 26699 UDP 26257
   Computer 4 TCP 36699 UDP 36257

Continue to Step 7

Step 7

If you are still unable to download at this point you might be one of the unlucky few who have Internet Service Providers who block ports or filter out peer-to-peer traffic. If this is your case, some people have had good results by trying alternate ports or setting TCP and UDP ports to "Unable" (as shown in Step 1 for education and company networks). Apart from that there is not much you can do besides switch providers.

If you are able to download at this point, but you are not having good results there are other factors that could cause download problems.

1. The person you are attempting to download from might not have set things up correctly on their network and might not be able to upload at all.

2. Some people just don't allow anyone to download from them by choice.

3. Some people run programs which only allow people to download from them who meet specific requirements, like a certain number of files shared or type of connection.

4. You could also be trying to download from file flooders, those who flood the network with fake files in order to collect data about people attempting to download them. If you are using PG2 with the p2p list you'll prevent yourself from attempting to download from companies who are known to do that. Note: If you have not already installed PeerGuardian2 with WinMX Block and Allow list, it is recommened you do so. PG2 Download Links and Tutorial Note: For Vista users for installing PeerGuardian2 with WinMX Block and Allow list, it is recommened you do so. PG2 Download Links and Tutorial

It can be very helpful to find a chat room with similar interests to yours and trade directly with others. You'll be more likely to find people who want to trade and have their computers set up correctly to do so. People also tend to have more patience and persistence when they are getting a file they want in return. You can also browse the people in your queue for files of interest and pm them to arrange one on one trades.

Another tip is to select sources that appear to be actively uploading. You may have to wait a bit longer but you are more likely to be successful. Those who show 6 of 6 available are more than likely too good to be true and more often than not fall in the category of fake file flooders or incorrectly configured users.

If you need further assistance, please make a Help Request.