Help - Installed SmartFTP 3.0 and now nothing works.

I've been running version 2.5 for a while now on my Vista machine with no problems. I use it for about 20 sites spread over multiple servers and hosts.

Today I followed the link on the SmartFTP splash screen to download the newest version, installed it, and now, get the ""No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it." message on any and all connect attempts. FileZilla is also giving me error messages, and the basic Windows command line FTP program is the only one that lets me log in. However, upon login, I'll try to do a simple dir command and get a timeout.

I have two other XP machines here. I upgraded to the latest version on both of them. No problems. SmartFTP, FileZilla, and command line FTP work fine. One of the machines is connected directly to my router, the other has a wireless connection, like my Vista machine.

This problem began immediately after I installed the latest version on my Vista computer. I noticed during the installation that it listed some other active programs as sharing files that would need to be updated in the installation. These included Thunderbird, a couple of other Internet based programs, and Windows Explorer itself. The latter I found very odd.

After all this happened, I tried uninstalling Smart FTP and was told that I would need to restart before the installation would complete (file sharing I suppose). I told it to proceed, then the uninstall seemed to disappear for a while. I finally just restarted, and SmartFTP was gone.

I then reinstalled and am still experiencing the same problems.


Other info:

I have only Windows Firewall. I disabled it and still have the problems. So I re-enabled. And it cannot be a router or ISP issue, because two other machines here are fine with the new version, one on a wireless connection and one not.

The packages I installed were from: https://www.smartftp.com/download/ . 32-bit Windows self installer.


I am pulling my hair out. Thanks for any advice.

Oh - and I think the problem is going beyond just FTP. I have tried to install two programs with download-based installers, and they can't connect to the server.

I don't think your problems are related to SmartFTP.

I don't think your problems are related to SmartFTP.

Hi, I agree - this is a global problem - but SmartFTP caused it. This started immediately after I installed the new version.

I also noticed that when I installed it on my other two systems (XP), it did not need access to files currently in use by Explorer. I've installed SmartFTP a number of times and never seen that. For some reason, the installer seems to have modified (and screwed up) something in Windows.

Hello Nathan ..

I have to disagree with you, SmartFTP cannot/shouldn't cause such problems. Our installer has been tested by Microsoft and they have certified it for Windows Vista. It means that you can assume that it is extremely unlikely that it screws up the Windows installation.

I would look at your software firewall or antivirus product. They might be blocking SmartFTP and other applications creating connections.

Regards,
Mat

Hello Nathan ..

I have to disagree with you, SmartFTP cannot/shouldn't cause such problems. Our installer has been tested by Microsoft and they have certified it for Windows Vista. It means that you can assume that it is extremely unlikely that it screws up the Windows installation.

I would look at your software firewall or antivirus product. They might be blocking SmartFTP and other applications creating connections.

Regards,
Mat

Hi Mat,

In many installations of SmartFTP I've never had a problem, and I love it. But don't you find it odd that it needed to modify files that were locked by Explorer.exe? And then, when I restarted, everything was screwy?

I turned off Windows Firewall. I am not running any other type of firewall or antivirus software. And even when Windows Firewall was on, I checked the exceptions list and FTP was there.

Remember, this isn't even working in the command line FTP. It's the only one I can even get to connect to a server and login, but once you're in, every command just hangs.

Just double checked, and Windows Firewall (which is the only firewall I have) is explicitly set to allow both the command line FTP and smartftp.exe.

Again, here's the sequence of events that led to the problem:

1) Downloaded the newest version
2) Installed it
3) Restarted
4) Immediately went to use the new version and got the connectivity errors - also got them for FileZilla, command line, and other programs.

Nothing else in between. I did not modify anything, install anything, remove anything, etc.

Come on guys...any ideas, please. I have got to fix this.

I agree with mb - it is highly unlikely that the problem is caused by SmartFTP. It looks like your connection is reset by something. It may be the remote machine, it may be your software firewall, or another firewall on the way.

Try completely disabling the Windows firewall (and any other software firewall/antivirus on the system), and see if you can connect.

I agree with mb - it is highly unlikely that the problem is caused by SmartFTP. It looks like your connection is reset by something. It may be the remote machine, it may be your software firewall, or another firewall on the way.

Try completely disabling the Windows firewall (and any other software firewall/antivirus on the system), and see if you can connect.

Thanks, but I have already done that (please read above). Also, I am not talking about just one remote machine. I'm talking about five or six servers over multiple hosts, not to mention the problems with download-based installer programs like Spybot S&D.

This is not a firewall issue. This is something SmartFTP setup did to my Vista settings when it modified files in use by explorer.exe. I'm trying to figure out what.

Does anyone know of some forums where I can get some help for this? Apparently everyone wants to just ignore the plain facts and keep talking about Windows Firewall. So any good forums of Windows networking specialists that could figure out what the installer did to my settings?

Does anyone know of some forums where I can get some help for this? Apparently everyone wants to just ignore the plain facts and keep talking about Windows Firewall. So any good forums of Windows networking specialists that could figure out what the installer did to my settings?

Like you mention yourself, you have the same problems with other ftp clients. Then its obviously not a SmartFTP related problem. And this is the SmartFTP forum. Nonetheless.
I would suggest checking your router since you're only running the windows firewall and smartftp is added as an exception.

I work as a tech support/dev and I have had plenty of customers that have had routers that has started to deny connections on specific ports from specific computers on then network.
Most of the time its been enough to restart or replace them. Also try to bypass the router if that's possible.

good luck!

Like you mention yourself, you have the same problems with other ftp clients. Then its obviously not a SmartFTP related problem. And this is the SmartFTP forum. Nonetheless.
I would suggest checking your router since you're only running the windows firewall and smartftp is added as an exception.

I work as a tech support/dev and I have had plenty of customers that have had routers that has started to deny connections on specific ports from specific computers on then network.
Most of the time its been enough to restart or replace them. Also try to bypass the router if that's possible.

good luck!

Hi, please read my posts. I mean, look at the details.

I have tested this on three computers at the same location. Two are behind are a router, one isn't. I'm not having any problems with either of my other machines, one of which uses a wireless connection like this one.

THE SMARTFTP INSTALLER DID SOMETHING TO MY VISTA CONFIGURATION WHEN IT MODIFIED FILES IN USE BY EXPLORER.EXE THAT HAS SCREWED UP A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT USE CONNECTIVITY.

Why did I type that in all caps? Because no one gets it. Please read ALL the text in my posts, I have tried to give as much detail as possible. All the responses here just ignore half of what I said and throw out generic responses.

Please stop spreading false information. This thread is closed.