Pinging update.guildsoftware.com [204.11.209.42] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 204.11.209.42: bytes=32 time=273ms TTL=53
Reply from 204.11.209.42: bytes=32 time=271ms TTL=53
Reply form 204.11.209.42: bytes=32 time=269ms TTL=53
Reply from 204.11.209.42: bytes=32 time=289ms TTL=53

Ping statistics for 204.11.209.42:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip time in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 269ms, Maximum = 289ms, Average = 275ms

I hope this is what you meant.

hm, yeah, that's what we wanted. hm. that stomps me, sorry. you could try to telnet to the update port, but eh, that's about it. someone actually using windows will have to help you with that though.

ok so who uses windows that can help?...anybody?

I'll work on this tonight.

1) In the meantime, what are you using for a firewall?

2) Did you try my suggestion of deleting only the config.ini from the Vendetta folder?

The ping test shows that you can resolve the address and find a route to it. The telnet test terjekv mentions will test whether or not you can actually make the connection. To do that open up the command prompt, like you did to ping, and type this:

telnet update.guildsoftware.com 21024

If it can make the connection, it should take you to a blank black screen. If it does, press ctrl-] to escape from the connection, and type quit to quit telnet. If it can't make the connection, it will say something along the lines of "Could not open connection to the host, on port 21024: Connect failed"

Ok I typed it in and did not get that message now what? I am using windows firewall, and I deleted the config but nothing happened.

Strange. If telnet took you to a blank screen, then it means telnet was able to open a connection to the update server on TCP port 21024, which is the same connection that the updater is making. If telnet can make the connection, then the updater should also be able to. Is the updater still saying it can't connect?

My guess at this point is that there's some firewall on your computer that is allowing telnet to make the connection, but not the updater. I'm not familier with the firewall that Windows comes with, so I don't know how it works.

Ya I'm very suspicious of the XP firewall in this case (not bashing here, I use XP as well). We've had somebody write in a few months ago with a similar situation. He said he disabled the firewall and Vendetta still wouldn't run, but then he checked his settings again and discovered the firewall was still on. He shut it down again and got through. He seemed competent and a believe that he did shut it off the first time.

See this link for a similar situation and possible fix:
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=127258

You might also try manually configuring your firewall to make an exception for Vendetta (vendetta.rlb is what sets Norton off for me).

Thanks Beolach

I dont know if this may help but the computer downloaded an automatic update I think on the day I played last. I still get the same message trying to run the updater. What if I do system restore?

Did you try the stuff in the last post I made? Doing a system restore is kind of a drastic measure that may leave you vulnerable. My hope is that you'll try what I've suggested and then we can either confirm or rule-out that the issue is your firewall. Then it will be a matter of either helping you manually make an exception for Vendetta, or investigating other possibilities. I really think it's your firewall, and I can help you more easily if you try this stuff.

Also, are you the only user on your computer? Do you have Admin status on the machine?

I have tried everything you said but nothing seemed to work. I have already disabled my firewall and when I check on it, it says it is disbled.

A Windows automatic update is unlikely to cause network problems w/ VO, but I suppose it's possible. If you do think it's the cause of the problem, you should be able to go to Start->Settings->Control Panel->Add/Remove Programs and remove the update. That's a less drastic measure than a system restore, and if you still have the connection problem after removing the update, it's easy to reinstall the update again.

I dont remember which one it was. And in my last post I forgot to put that I am not the only user and that I have administrator status.

It should show the date that each Windows Update was installed on.

if you don't have administrator priveleges, I had problems getting VO to run as well. I don't know if was me being clueless with windows, but ran into some problems. I didn't bother debugging it once it worked as Administrator though, I was just testing stuff.

I have to say I'm stumped. Do you have any other virus protection / firewall software at all?

Nope just that firewall as far as I know. But what Im wondering is why it just stopped working all of a sudden.

That's what we've ALL been wondering and trying to help with. What do you use for virus protection?

No. The only other thing we used expired a long time ago.

Let's be really clear: Do you have any antivirus or firewall software currently installed on your computer? If so, what brand and type is it?