Unknown Port Issues

[Maegtelluma]

I have been attempting to play Age of Empires II: AOK online, and i was having problems. I emailed microsoft, and they identified the problem as Norton or my router "stealthing" ports 80 and 2300-2400. I have no idea what this means or how to fix it. Could anyone offer some assistance?>

Thanks,
Maegtelluma

[WeekendLazyness]

Something is blocking access to ports 2300-2400 on your computer. A port is a "door" that your computer uses to connect to other computers. Think of it this way: When you type in a website in your browser, you knock on port 80 of the computer that hosts that site. It sends the information back to another port on your computer, and the information displays on your screen. AoE needs ports 2300-2400 to connect to other computers to play multiplayer. As I said before, something is blocking these doors. This is usually done for security reasons. The thing that is blocking it could either be some software made by Norton, or a router, which is a device you connect your computer to if you want to set up a network. If you told us how you connected to the Internet, we would be able to help your situation.

[Maegtelluma]

I have Time Warner Roadrunner cable, hard wired into a linksys wireless router, with Norton AntiVirus 2004

[Exedore]

I don't know exactly how AoE's multiplayer works, but your router might be the problem. Blizzard games only require ports to be forwarded in order to host games, but AoE may be different. See this article (http://kb.linksys.com/cgi-bin/om_isapi.dll?clientID=1094436&QuestionText=KB10934316&SelectName1=&advquery=%5bs%5d%5bRank%2c%2050%3a%5bSum%3a%20KB10 934316%5d%5bMerge%3a%20%5bThesaurus%3a%20KB1093431 6%5d%5d%5d&infobase=linksysrev.nfo&record={3D7}&softpage=IKW_ENU_JDocView) for more information, but replace the ports with the ones that Microsoft gave you.