Since LimeWire also doesn't work for you, it seems that the problem doesn't sit in Phex, but somewhere in your Windows or network.

What does Windows Defender do?

Windows Defender is a free antivirus that microsoft offers to microsoft customers,
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...e/default.mspx
did you want any screenshots and if i gave you my address on phex would that help?

Could you try disabling it?

Some Microsoft Products are a bit too restrictive on non-Microsoft Software (while letting Windows spy on you as it pleases, naturally...).

How is your laptop connected to the network?
(Maybe we can find the solution on that route...)

Hey
 

Should your IP address be localhost? (127.0.0.0)

That the address is 127.0.0.1 just means, that Phex never managed to connect to another computer who could tell it its real address.

It shouldn't be 127.0.0.1 if Phex got into the web.