XP Pro / Internet problem

[jfc17]

I'm having a small problem with a few of my games that have auto-updaters, though I am connected to the internet, running the auto-update program for a few games give the result "no valid internet connection" or "you are not currently connected", etc.

I am running XP Pro and am new to it so am also at a loss. The Windows Udpate, IE, Outlook Express and all other internet access works normally, just the individual game auto-updaters seem affected. I have also tried disabling and enabling the XP firewall, with no effect. Any ideas? Thanks.

[PCC-Richard]

It's got to be a firewall issue, or an issue specific to the games themselves. Are you playing from a dorm room, or some other place with a lot of users on the same network?

What sort of game is it?

[jfc17]

It's a home cable connection. It's happening to a few games, all older ones. One is the Sierra auto-updater for half-life, which I've since heard from friends that it has problems working in XP. Another was 3DO's "Heroes of might and Magic"...

I'm thinking it's also somewhere in the connection settings that I'm not aware of.... thanks for the input.