Internet programs and port forwarding

[hitmann]

I have a Netgear Wireless router and when I use it to connect to the internet, MSN Messenger and AIM don't work. Apart from http and ftp programs, I've only tested those two messengers as internet programs.

I need to forward the ports of each program that will connect to the internet?

 

[hitmann]

McAfee Firewall is installed, and I've configured it to let MSN MEssenger and AIM access the internet. Would it be wise to uninstall the software firewall?

There is a firewall included in my router but I've never used it (or configured it at least). Would it act the same way as a software firewall? I like the "live" functionality of a software firewall, asking you to allow or block a software as it tries to connect to the internet.

 

[hitmann]

I've reinstalled it three times and it's still on my computer. But is it OK to have the software firewall and the router firewall running at the same time? Won't that create any conflict with programs trying to access internet?