Server unresponsive... blocked port ?

[Peter Bunn]

Hello...

I'm new to this list and new to VNC as well... sorry for the overlong 
post, but I'm hoping the detail provided might help promote a solution.

I'm trying to access my elderly father's computer remotely.  He's on XP 
Home SP1, I'm on a Mac.  I'm currently able to 'get in' using PCNow, but 
would prefer to use RealVNC, with PCNow as a 'backup' as needed.

I had RealVNC working very nicely for a few hours a few weeks ago, but it 
became necessary/desirable to uninstall Zone Alarm... which seems to have 
'broken' the VNC connectivity.  I've been trying ever since to restore it.

Since then...

RealVNC has been uninstalled and reinstalled.

I created an exception for VNC in the connection firewall (ICF... pre 
'Windows Firewall') and I tried to open both 5900 and 5800 ports.  (There 
is no router.)

The VNC server is set to the default ports, with the Access Control field 
empty.  When the field has *any* address entered, even the default to 
permit all connections, any remote connection attempt times out, and the 
VNC Network Test reports (if I recall correctly) 'not a VNC server'.  

With the Access Control field empty, I can at least get to port 5900, but 
the Network Test reports "Connecting to port 5900... succeeded.  Waiting 
for server to send version string... Unknown server ()"  

The remote viewer reports "The connection closed unexpectedly".

The error in the Event Viewer (for the latter connection attempt) is 
"SocketManager: unknown listener event: 0"... with no more informative 
messages regarding connection failure.

I've toggled the Access Control settings and the results above are 
reproducible.  I've tried different ports (in both the firewall and VNC) 
with no luck.

It seems like I *should* be able to make a connection... but I'm out of 
ideas.

I've searched the web and this list for the meanings of the various error 
messages, and have found relevant information... but as yet no solution.

I don't - honestly - know what more I can try with the setup I have now.

I've thought (possibly) reinstalling Zone Alarm and creating an exception 
for VNC might work.  I've also considered updating the system to SP2 and 
working with Windows Firewall.  But at this point, I don't have a lot of 
confidence either would work.

Any suggestions would be enormously welcome.

Thanks for your time.

Peter B.

-----