Model: TP-Link TL-WR841N
Hardware Version: V14
Firmware Version: 0.9.1 4.19 v0348.0 Build 220816 Rel.43928n
Windows version: 6.1 v. 7601 SP1 Windows 7

I am using two computers to play a two player network game: one is a Windows 11 Pro machine and one is a Windows 7 Ultimate machine. The Windows 7 machine is locked out of Internet access by means of Parental Control.

The reason I blocked my Windows 7 computer out of Internet access was that I am under the impression that it will be vulnerable to hackers. At the same time, I still want to use my Windows 7 computer for basic functions, offline network storage, and IPX/SPX/TCP/UDP network gaming, while being protected from outside threats. Perhaps that is a misconception, but for my purpose, I would like to still usage until it breaks down permanently and yet protect it from whatever I can protect from it. I would opt to use Windows 10, but I have no drivers supporting that operating system.

All was well until I turned off the Windows 7 computer and turned it back on as a test. When I tested games Command and Conquer Generals Zero Hour and the legacy versions of Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne (not the new Reforged version), I can see no games being created when there were. Thinking it was Parental Controls that created the problem, I disabled it, but the problem persisted nonetheless, especially when I reinstated Internet access to the Windows 7 computer, but there were no resolutions.

I asked around the Internet, but I have yet to have an answer. I asked OpenAI, but the bot would just offer generic solutions that do not pertain to the problem. I tried looking for DirectPlay, but while Windows 11 has it, Windows 7 had no such option.

One thing that might help: I enabled and disabled Parental Control by checking and unchecking the topmost checkbox of the page respectively, I did not go through with the Clear Schedule buttons located below. Should I do that?

Another that might help: access to the network from all three computers (including the Windows 7 one) is still possible.

Anything that might help me is welcome.