My internet recently went through an overhaul since my cable modem blew up after being hit by lightning... Needless to say I got a new one from my ISP, and it works fine...

Except ever since then any form of IRC seems to not be working, from mIRC, to built in IRC clients.

I am pretty wise when it comes to computers, but not when it comes to things like this. Any help?

The error message I usually get is "Unable to connect : java.net.SocketException : Software caused connection abort: connect "

I have tried connecting directly to my cable modem by plugging straight into the modem instead of the router, same error resulted...

I don't have a windows firewall up and running, only virus protection software, and I have the latest version of Java installed.

I've tried using google, and searching other forums... But people with my same error usually get it fixed by opening up a port on their router... This obviously isn't the issue in my case.

Welcome to PC Help Forum

I have asked another member (one with IRC knowledge) to take a look at this thread.

I find it a bit obscure that your cable modem should suffer from a lightening attack, however this is of no consequence now as you are back up and running.

Please tell me which IRC client you are using, ie mIRC, Icechat etc.
Please also tell me which irc server you are trying to connect to and which room.
Tell me the port number you have listed in the settings in the client.
IRC ports range from 6660 to 7000
Please do not confuse java scripted chat as against irc software although sometimes you can access java chat via irc.

Please get back to me with the above information please Gustav.

I've tried using both mIRC and IceChat, as well as web based clients, and all of them don't work. IceChat says "Socket Error: 10053 : Connection is aborted due to timeout or other failure (Server)" I don't have mIRC any longer so I don't know that error, and the web based error is in the original post.
I've also tried Trillian, which gives me "[11:16] *** Error while connecting (Error Code: 10053). Disconnecting."

I've just been trying to connect to the server itself, before I get a chance to join a room... It seems to fail on all servers I try..

I've tried irc.swgemu.com, irc.synirc.net, and the one at IRCApplet recently...., and on all my clients I attempt to connect through port 6667, which is open on my router, but that shouldn't be an issue if I get the same error plugged through my cable modem.

The java irc chats I'm talking about are just web based java clients which connect to IRC servers like the one I listed above.

Hope that's all the information you needed

What Anti Virus are you running Gustav as it seems to me by what I read that this may be causing the problem?

Read further here.

PSCS Knowledgebase - Socket Error 10053 - An established connection...

Here is a list of socket errors that you may have encountered also.

Socket Error #11004 - TeamSpeak Community Forums

I used McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.0 .....

I never really thought this was the issue since the problem originated over the switching of cable modems... But I disabled my virus software and I could connect...

Is there anyway I can configure it to let me use IRC...? I don't really want to get different virus protection software, what I use is provided by U of M, and it's never failed me (until this little issue. )

EDIT: Scratch that. I did some exploring with my virus software, and deep within it's preferences I found one little hidden option.... It was blocking IRC Communication.

Thanks for leading me to this realization!