Can't Ping in or out

nbell · October 20th, 2004, 10:08 AM

Hi... I sure need some help.

I cannot ping my computer from another computer nor can I ping any computer that is out of my ISP's domain.

The reason this is important to me is I have a great need to use the Remote Desktop that is available in XP and I can't use it. Can't find my computer over the internet.

My basic details: Win XP SP2, DSL Connection via a DSL Modem connected to a LAN card in my computer.

I get the same IP address whether I use the XP SP2 ipconfig /all or go to a site like whatismyip.com or many others. I can also go to codeflux.com and ping my computer's (supposed) IP address and get good return hops.

Most people at this point would say call my ISP and ask them for information. However, my wife and I own and operate orphanages in China and our DSL is provided by a Chinese group and all they care about is getting our service fee each month and offer no service help.

Please, please can someone help me?

Oh... this problem does not go away if I turn off my Firewall.

You can contact me at nbell@homeofhope.org if you have some suggestions.

Thank you!

TOAD6147 · October 20th, 2004, 10:19 AM

Do I understand that you are trying to ping your main office computer from a remote terminal over the Internet? Is your DSL modem setup as a router or just a bridge? That may be the key to your problem but this is also a ^BUMP^ for you to keep this up front for a more experienced helper to come to your rescue. BTW, welcome to TechIMO. You've come to the right place for help.

nbell · October 20th, 2004, 10:32 AM

Thanks for your quick response.

I travel a lot and need to access my office computer via intenet remote desktop. In attempting to set this up I have discovered that I can't conect with my computer via the internet. I am starting at the basics to find out why and I can't even ping my computer or ping "your" computer for that matter... as an example I get nothing except "request timed out" regardless of what I ping.. i.e. cnn.com or if I'm at a remote location I can't ping my home computer.

I do hope someone can help on this forum. I am totally lost here and I am not computer illiterate!

Thank you!

filipino · October 20th, 2004, 10:38 AM

i just ping cnn.com and yes time out, can you try to ping yahoo.com see if it works? are you sure your computer in china is online? just some thoughts

nbell · October 20th, 2004, 10:53 AM

Oh yes... I'm on line. I can send and receive email. I can get on this forum... but I can't ping yahoo.com. I have probably pinged more than 200 places and all send back "request timed out" The same thing happens if I try to ping my computer from another computer some where.

Thanks for your interest and help

nbell · October 20th, 2004, 10:56 AM

Here's another example... right now I'm connected to techimo.com and on this forum.. but if I ping techimo.com I get no response.

TOAD6147 · October 20th, 2004, 09:28 PM

How are you attempting to ping. Please describe exactly what you do. And you didn't answer about the modem. Is it also a router?

James T · October 20th, 2004, 09:35 PM

Sounds like you are a road-warrior (common term) wanting to get to your office desktop. Your office desktop will be behind a firewall / nat / dmz.

The office desktop ip address is NOT exposed to Internet in these cases. Your IT guys will have to specially set you up. They are often reluctant to do this.

When you go to whatismyip from your office they will be telling you your nat/firewall address which is NOT your pc address.

What people sometimes do to get around this is to use a connection like GoToMyPc where your office PC creates a connection to the GoToMyPc Internet site. You, from the road, do the same. This is a kludge to bypass your office networks security.

nbell · October 20th, 2004, 09:49 PM

Reply to a couple of posts... and by the way... "Thank You"

For Toad6147. I ping as follows: ping 219.156.XXX.XXX or ping techimo.com

Serveral people have said that pinging success is not necessary to be able to use remote desktop but the fact is that if I can't contact my compuer by pinging I sure can't reach my computer's remote desktop feature.

My connection setup is an incoming DSL line from the ISP which connectes to a DSL Modem. From the modem there is a T-10 (network cable) that connects to my computers NIC or LAN card (whichever term you prefer).

I hope this helps.

Now for James T. I do travel a lot but it sounds as if you think I am on a network at my orphanage. No... my computer is independent with a direct connection to the internet. Sadly I have no IT guys... I am the IT guy if there is such a thing here... <grin> The only firewall I use is the one that comes with Win XP SP2 and my problem is there whether I deactivate the firewall or leave it on. By the way, whatismyip is one of the sources I use to determine my IP address.

I have tried GoToMyPc and it will work but I don't like it. It is reasonable to assume that if they can find my computer on the internet I should be able to find it also. Don't you agree?

Thanks everyone for your help so far.

Again, if you wish to contact me direct you can do so at nbell(removethis)@homeofhope.org

TOAD6147 · October 20th, 2004, 09:53 PM

See if any of this info might help.