Can't get Dell XPS M140 to connect to local server

ok, so im trying to get a dell xps m140 to connect to a server at my college, but for some reason it wont load it. the server isnt down, because my inspiron e1505 can connect to it, and its not the ethernet im using, because it works with the e1505 also. only thing i can think of, is that windows has some setting that wont allow you to access the server.

i would think the setting would be in the network settings, but couldnt really find what i was looking for. when i go to "my network places" and try to manually set up the network, it says "Windows requires a share to publish to. Please try another location"

only thing i can think of, is because the M140 is still using default windows that Dell installed. i havent reinstalled windows on this computer, so i dont know what settings might have been blocked when Dell put on the OS. any ideas on how to fix this?

 

Check with the college IT Department. They may be controlling access.

Check you firewall setting.

 

yea, it ended up being the firewall. totally didnt think of that when trying to fix it. thanks though