How to make a server out of an old comp?

I cant access my ftp server outside my LAN?

• hi,im not good at the networking things but i want to make my comp a file server,also a telnet server(please dont mention the security concerns,im not really bothered abt them right now)... so i installed the microsoft ftp service(using the add/remove windows components).. started the service.. ran the ftp client.. things went nice as long as i used my lan ip address 172.16.212.15.i am able to connect and transfer files within the lan network(used one my friends comp within the LAN).... but the problem started when i wanted to connect from outside the LAN(so that my friends outside LAN can access my ftp server) ...i used my wan ip address and it says ftp.exe my_wan_ipaddress >ftp: connect :Unknown error number (im using windows default ftp client) i changed the port numbers ...but no luck i googled a lot but found only handful of useful info...they say i need to port forward so how do i do it?????? i have no router,the only thing i have is an onboard network adapter to connect to lan and thats how i can access the internet. is my isp blocking incoming connections????....if it is so,i can never access my ftp server which is inside lan via internet?????????????,is there a way to beat it??? nerds!!!!!!!!!!!!!! please help me with this thing..

• Answer:

  how many times do you have to post the same question in a five minute time span? refer to my previous answer: >That doesn't really make sense. If you have a home network then you have a router. >Otherwise there would be no way to use the friend's computer within the LAN, because there would be no lan. >Some people run straight from their modem, but that means they have no option to hook another machine in. >Locate your router, log in, and portforward your ports. you are suffering from user error, not isp manipulation.