joining by ip

Not sure what you mean by 2 different IP's, perhaps IP assigned by DHCP on router and internet IP you are referring to?

I suggest reading this first, as this is likely a router configuration issue:
https://www.jkdf2.net/?global=troubleshooting

dont have a router, just one site said my ip was so and so, another said my ip was something different. i'm struggling to understand the jargon on that page though. any simpler, englishy versions?

You really need to read that. Also are your friends on different connections than you, or are you all on a LAN?

I have the same problem as his. Only mine goes a few steps further. I have a lot of viruses and my win xp cd key has been compromised so I can't download the rest of service pack 2. And direct X is kind of fucked up. Not to mention my security settings. How do I set up a proxy connection-thingie? I want both of my IP's to be congruent: the one I get from whatismyip.com as well as my ipconfig one.

I've spent probably 30 hours at least reading the troubleshooter, and all of the ones on the windows.com site. I'd like to learn how to set up a DMZ the old fashioned way. Or open a few ports. But I have no firewall, and I can't download the windows firewall because of all of my corrupted files.

HEEEELP!! please

I will pay you handsomely. I'll send you a check in the mail pay you 20 bucks an hour if you help.

Serious inquiries only