Red Exclamation Mark of Death out of NOWHERE

I've been using BitTorrent since it came out some years ago; I moved to BitComet at some point, and I've been a uTorrent user now for three years or so. I've also been on the same router for three years, and I'm intimately familiar with its settings. I'm really embarrassed posting this.

I just started getting a little red exclamation mark instead of a green check box - both uTorrent and the webpage that checks say that my port isn't open.

I've checked the router setup - my port is open, my IP is correct (as it has been for years). I've tried different port numbers. I've restarted uTorrent; restarted the router; restarted my computer. I've turned off my firewall. I haven't installed anything that would mess with this.

WHAT'S GOING ON?!?

It shouldn't matter, but I'm using Comcast, the latest uTorrent, Vista 64-bit, and have a Belkin 802.11g router.

Comcast is known to be crap. Also, if you mean a software firewall, turning off or disabling a firewall usually doesn't stop it from interfering with the system. If you still have trouble, go through this guide, provide the information requested on it if you still have trouble.

Huh. So I guess my ISP did matter.

I've read about their behavior as of late, but I didn't think that would affect my open port. I thought they were sending out "reset" packets or something... can that make a port that's open appear closed?

I've been through that guide - thanks for the link. The only firewall I'm relying on right now is the router itself and Vista's little one - which uTorrent is allowed through.

The RST packets wouldn't cause a port problem. Also, can't try to troubleshoot without that information :/.

Color of the network status light in µTorrent's status bar: RED (!)

What the port checker from the Speed Guide writes: "Checking port xxxxx on xx.xx.xx.xxx... Error! Port xxxxx does not appear to be open."

What the Speed Guide shows your settings to be: Um, the usual stuff. Port number. Encryption enabled. Etc.

What you have net.max_halfopen set to: 8

Operating system installed: Vista Ultimate 64-bit

Security software installed: Windows Firewall, AVG Antivirus

Exact router and modem models: I'm too lazy to check the modem, but it's a Motorola Surfboard of some kind. The router is a Belkin F5D7230-4.

ISP (Internet Service Provider) being used: Comcast

EDIT: Stop the presses. It's green again. Freakin' gremlins. Thanks for your help GTHK.

Connect to your modem directly and see if the red exclamation mark disappears.

Well, for future reference, Moto Surfboards are known to cause problems, hence Firons comment. The company makes a few nice cell phones though .

I suppose... but I'm an HTC man myself. Buy a Tilt, visit xda-developers.com... you'll never look at an iPhone the same way again!

I'll keep that in mind... thanks!

<- owns an htc mogul :x

Unless you pay a lot extra for the higher speed grades ComCast offers, then you probably need to use the xx/384k speed setting in Speed Guide (CTRL+G).

That's exactly what I use - thanks!

Firon - I sure hope you frequent xda-developers.com!