Incorrect Proxy Information

First, you should make sure you did not enter proxy server information by mistake. If you don't know what a proxy server is, or if you have not been instructed to use one by your hosting provider, then you most likely don't have one. To check whether you have filled in proxy information, open up Direct FTP and go to Edit > Preferences > Proxy tab. If you have any information filled out in those fields, remove it and click OK. Now restart the program and try connecting.

Passive Mode

Whenever you experience trouble connecting, it's a good idea to enable passive mode in Direct FTP. To do this, go to File > Manage Servers and put a checkmark next to Passive Mode in the server profile you wish to use. This article provides more information about using passive mode with any firewalls you may have installed.

Firewalls

If the issue isn't corrected by removing proxy information and/or enabling passive mode, the culprit may be your firewall software, such as Norton Personal Firewall and ZoneAlarm. This article gives basic information about how to ensure that your firewall does not interfere with Direct FTP, but specific instructions may vary depending on which firewall software you are using.

Once you have upgraded and installed the new version of Direct FTP, you will need to scan your computer for Internet-enabled programs. This ensures that your firewall is aware that the program exists and can therefore add it to a list of exceptions. For further information about this process, check out this Help article on Symantec's website. This article also contains helpful information.

Another solution to this problem is to manually adjust which programs (specifically Direct FTP) can access the Internet. For information about how to set or modify firewall rules for web-enabled programs such as Direct FTP, read this article.

It is also possible that the built-in firewall in Windows XP may be causing this issue. For more information about this firewall, read this article: How to Enable and Disable the XP firewall.

A final possibility for those of you who have SP2 installed is to make our program an exception to the SP2 firewall. These instructions will walk you through the process step by step:

  1. From your Windows desktop, go to Start > Settings > Control Panel.
  2. Locate either the Security Center or Windows Firewall.
  3. If you found the Security Center, locate the Windows Firewall.
  4. Click the Exceptions tab.
  5. Click the Add Program button.
  6. Locate CoffeeCup Direct FTP, highlight it, and click OK.
  7. Click OK in the Firewall window.
  8. Reboot your computer, open Direct FTP, and try to connect.