Problem Uploading MS Office files via http

Hello,

I am unable to upload ms office (ms word, excel, etc) files via http to any server on the internet. The computer is not on any corporate network, and the IP address is directly accessible via the internet (no network address translation)

These are the steps I have tried:
1. Uploading via https (works)
2. Tried other non msoffice files (works)
3. Zipped and sent the msoffice files (works)

4. Tried to send the file to different servers (completely independent of each other) (did not work)
4. Uploading using mozilla and internet explorer from windows xp (both dont work)
5. Uploading from a fresh installation of windows xp (no software, no firewall) (did not work)
6. Uploading from a virtual machine running ubuntu using mozilla (base machine windows XP) (did not work)

I viewed the http traffic between the server and me, and found out that the browser was correctly posting the data, however the connection was timing out after that.

I then used wireshark to see the raw data being transfered. And for a msword file i can see some red lines, which signify some sort of error. Based on the wireshark help files, it seems like there is a TCP RST packet along with either a bad tcp or a checksum error. (I dont know what "bad tcp" means, but that is what the default coloring rules of wireshark call it)

I could provide those pcap files if required.

I would appreciate any help or suggestions on solving this.

Thanks.

 

Yes, uploading via http from a web form.

As mentioned in my original post, i have tried uploading from a brand new installation, (with no other softwares) of windows, without the firewall. And even that didnt work.

Also, i tried this from a linux based virtual machine. The only way the same firewall could affect that machine is if the said firewall is on an external machine. However, this doesnt seem to be the case.

One more thing that i realized:
I am connected to my ISP via a switched LAN. and i am connected to the internet via a PPPoE connection. Even when i try to send doc files to people on the lan via ipmsg it times out... even for really small files.

 

I have tried with the firewall off. But i did not know there were 2 places it had to be turned off. Ill try that.

Also, when i try uploading via linux in a virtual machine it does not work. I have yet not tried linux directly. I will try that and let you know.

I will be busy for the next few days, so there might be a delay to my next post.

 

Well, I do not think that will work.

Like i had mentioned earlier, i cannot transfer word files over ip messenger (http://www.ipmsg.org).
People cannot even download a doc file hosted via apache from my machine (Not www.basildsouza.com, that isnt on my machine)

So i think the problem is either with:
1. The windows firewall
2. Some software on my machine (Not very likely since i cannot even transfer files from a fresh installation of windows)
3. An external ISP operated firewall (very unlikely, unless he has a specific grudge on me , cause others can upload word files)
4. My network equipment is mysteriously broken in such a way that only word files get blocked. (I am really fishing for culprits here.. )

The only thing i can try now is to install / use a live cd of linux and try it. However i donot have the time to do that immediately. So i will let you know of how that turns out.

Thanks a lot for all the advice so far

 

Sorry for the delayed response, but i have been busy, the last week.

In order for the links to work, my computer at home will have to be on. I will PM you the links, and will try to leave my computer on for the next 24 hours atleast.

Thanks.

 

Those were links to my home server. I had setup a temporary CNAME from that to the proper address (for sake of anonymity)

Also.. all my other friends on the lan can send me word files, but i cannot send them word files. And we are all with the same ISP. So i guess it rules him out.

I still havent had time to try it from linux, will do that this weekend.

Wrt to your private message:
I am not certain of the size of the file, and since i am not at home i cannot check. But the file was relatively small. Just about 10 lines of text and nothing else.

Also, files created by my friends, that i havent even opened on my computer cause problems when uploading, so it is unlikely i have a virus on my computer.

 

FTP doesnt work, ssh i havent tried, but it might work cause it is encrypted.. and https works..

one of the sites i am uploading to is
"http://online.primopdf.com/Default.aspx "

which doesnt work..
however
"https://online.primopdf.com/Default.aspx" works....