EDIT: i have cracked and can use localhost fine AND other people can join when i use localhost at the ip but they connect to my ip. but i still cant connect to my ip. so i've been using my server for the last 2 days and today it said cant reach server i have port forwarding correct or it wouldnt have worked for the last few days. i have disabled firewall and all that. here are my server properties: #Minecraft server properties #Mon Apr 30 21:13:42 EDT 2012 allow-nether=true level-name=Bluebirds enable-query=false allow-flight=true server-port=25565 level-type=DEFAULT enable-rcon=false level-seed=Bluebirds server-ip= max-build-height=256 spawn-npcs=true white-list=false spawn-animals=true online-mode=false pvp=true difficulty=1 gamemode=0 max-players=20 spawn-monsters=false generate-structures=true view-distance=10 motd=Wlecome To Smexii's server! here is a video about my problem too.