Minecraft LAN trouble [closed]

I have 2 desktops and 1 laptop. My desktop runs windows 7, my wifes desktop runs window vista, the laptop runs windows 7. If I start a game and open it to LAN on my desktop both my wifes computer and the laptop can connect to the game. If I start a game on either my wifes computer or the laptop and open it to LAN, none of the computers can connect to it.

I know how to correct the 0.0.0.0 problem - this isn't whats wrong. Minecraft is allowed through the firewalls and router.

Can anyone help?

Solution 1:

Are you sure that you're allowed through the firewall?

There is an easy test to verify, if you have a telnet installed, and you if you know what port it's running on:

1. From the machine that's running the server, bring up the command prompt.
2. Type telnet localhost port` (replacing port with the port number)
3. Look at the message you get.
4. Repeat from the other machines, changing 'localhost' to the name or IP address of the server.

If it returns quickly with a 'connection refused' or sits for a minute or two before failing from the server, then it's either a sign that it's not really listening, or it's listening on a different port than you think.

If you're able to connect from the host, but then it fails on the other machines, then it's likely a firewall or similar, but it might also be a sign that you have the IP address of the server wrong also.