Help forwarding/opening ports on Vista

[truanifan678]

I thought I figured it out a while ago, but now I just can't seem to get them open and stay open. I've read various sites and guides on how to forward and open ports, but nothing is sticking. At one point they were open and worked fine, but now nothing works no matter what I do.

 

Here's what I've tried so far:

• Going into my router setting and forwarding a port (I randomly chose 9786).
  
• In my router setting Port Triggers to the 9786 ports for both Start and End.
  
• Setting up a static ip and alternatively removing that static ip.
  

The application I'm using requires TCP; if that makes a difference.

 

I'm a VERY basic user so all of this confuses me. I manage using this laptop for the most part, but these ports are driving me nuts.

 

My router is a Motorola SBG6580 and it says the software is "-3.5.8.2-GA-01-488-01-NOSH"

 

Help? I'm stuck.

[JohnFlower]

portforward.com will give you all the information you'll need, but it seems that you are confused as to what you need to do... Quick list:

1. Set up a static IP on your Vista machine

2. Configure router to open your ports and point them to Vista machine's static IP

3. ???

4. PROFIT

[truanifan678]

I guess I typed something incorrectly? :/

 

I did set up a static ip. I did follow all the instructions on portforwarding.com. It's not working and I don't know what I'm missing. I've gone over those tutorials over and over. Nothing is working.

[JohnFlower]

Most of the time it's because you haven't done the static IP part right.

If your router supports DHCP reservations, you can use that instead of Windows.

[lovebump]

depending on the router sometimes when setting up port forwarding you need to reboot your router after you set up the port forward for it to take effect