Troubleshooting your Activeworlds Connection

- Windows Firewall

If you receive the error message "Unable to connect to universe server" when you launch the Activeworlds browser, you may have a firewall installed on your PC that is blocking Activeworlds from connecting. Windows Firewall was released with Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. Windows Firewall is a host-based stateful firewall that is enabled by default and configured to reject unsolicited incoming IP traffic unless exceptions are configured to allow such traffic for specific applications or on specific ports.

If you have installed Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), you will notice that when certain programs open, you are prompted to Keep Blocking, Unblock or Ask Me Later. This is a security feature of the enhanced firewall in SP2.

If you select Keep Blocking, the program will not be able to access the Internet. If you select Unblock, that program will be able to access the Internet and a rule (called an Exception) will be created to allow the program to access the Internet in the future. If you select Ask Me Later, the program will not be able to access the Internet, however the next time you open it, you will receive the same prompt again. It is very important that you select 'Unblock' so that you can connect to Activeworlds.

To check to see if Windows Firewall is installed and enabled on your PC, click Start, select Control Panel select Security Center, and then click Windows Firewall.

Click the Exceptions tab at the top of the Windows Firewall panel. Here you will see a list of the current exceptions (rules), and can also create new exceptions as well as delete and/or edit existing exceptions.

To add Activeworlds to the list of exception click the 'Add Programs..' button and navigate to the Active Worlds directory (C:\Active Worlds) and select aworld.exe. You will then see Active Worlds listed under Programs and Services.

Back to Index