How do you open a port on a laptop and not using a router?

[boudreaux]

I'm running XP on a Dell laptop with NO ROUTER - straight off the internet. To the best of my knowledge, I've neutralized the firewalls and I still get the Error message when I check to see if a port is open and the yellow triangle still shows. I'm downloading, but it's real slow. Seems all the "Port Forwarding" info deals with situations involving routers, well, I'm not using one. Any fixes?

[jewelisheaven]

It's possible your modem includes a router. If you aren't getting forwarded port message, you can check other sites such as http://www.canyouseeme.org and http://www.utorrent.com/testport.php?port=YOURPORTNUMBER and https://www.grc.com/x/portprobe=YOURPORTNUMBER to test open ports since not all testers check the same way.

Also my post may point out some places you didn't think to look.