Need help with Server stuff

[that-guy]

Okay, so here's the problem. My friend and I are making this game which is working great, and it's fully function Online. The problem is that, the server will not work properly on my desktop, where as on my Laptop, it works fine.

Details:

The game connects to port 5055 and above, and it has no problem connecting to my laptop (connected to same router as my desktop) but when i change my router settings to forward the ports to my desktop, my desktop still doesnt seem to accept connections from the game. It's nothing to do with the router, it's Window XP I think. My laptop is running Windows Vista.

So I guess my main question is, is there something in Windows XP that would be blocking certain ports? I tried many other ports and nothing seemed to work...I had success with port 1 and i tested with port 2 and it worked. But I want the port to be 5055. (And yes, I can connect to my desktop through a LAN IP, but NOT it's internet IP. And no, i dont have any firewalls or protection on my desktop to prevent this from working.)

We've been making this game for quite some time but the server always runs on my laptop for testing. I'd rather it be my desktop. So I need help figuring this out, please and thank you.

[Dan]

Idealy you should be using ports that are in the 1000s range as the lower ones are used by the system and could be blocked to programs.

Next it sounds like there is a firewall some where or you have the ip wrong. Make shure the defualt windows firewall is off on both computers or at least has a rule to allow your program threw. Also check that your setings on your router are correct and that you are forwording the right port to the right LAN IP. Depending on how your program works you may have to forword a port for the server rather then the client or the client rather then the server or both (it dpends on who starts the comunications).

[that-guy]

Yeah, I know,thats why I want to use the 5055 port instead of ports 1 +.

And no, there's no firewall set up, the IP is for sure right.