Grrr I need help - Vista / IM Issues

[HowMayIPleaseU]

I need a techie to give me a hand please...

I just got a new laptop which has Vista (all updates downloaded and installed). I tried downloading the latest version of Skype and latest versions well as an older version of Yahoo Messenger (both of which I had on my old laptop). First, it wouldn't let me download by running, so I had to save them to my hard drive, then install. No problem, got that done.

However when I go to log in, I keep getting a message (on both programs) that I am not connected. Obviously I am connected to the internet at this time.

I am not using windows firewall. I have a hardware firewall with my DSL but I didn't have to do anything special with my old laptop to get these programs to run (I had XP) before.

I'd appreciate any suggestions...

 

[HowMayIPleaseU]

Woo hoo! Never mind... I fixed it myself... (haha! I am WOMAN! Hear me roar!)

 

[CherryBomb24]

clue me in?
I'm running a vista and had to have a friend come over to help me figure mine out.
What did you do to fix the issue?