... i got the message that the port was in use"
Got the message from what?
First of all to avoid any confusion; any port scan
must come from the outside of your network.
Not even Norton can scan your network for open ports from the inside.
You will have to open the port on your router. Let's leave Norton out of this for the moment; lets assume it has been 'turned completely off' and has no impact on anything.
You should run a scan (a proper scan) to determine if you are past the router at this point. If you are not of course you have to look at making the corrections at the router.
Repeating the above.
Once done the only thing that can be in the way of your application is TCP/IP filtering on Windows 2000.
... in Settings : Local Area Connection : Properties : Internet protocol : properties : Advanced : Options : tcp/ip filtering : properties. Check the settings.
If TCP/IP filtering is enabled (always is on my machine) then add your port to the list of 'permitted' ports.
Incidently, applications cannot open ports closed using this facility like they can with XP's Firewall.
My guess is your trouble is with the correct setting on the router. Please let me know how this worked out and what you found.
Amiel Summers