I can't connect to Minecraft online?

Ok, so I downloaded the cracked and paid version of Minecraft online and started it up. My mates told me they started a server so I was excited to join. As I tried to connect it gave me errors. Then I tried to create a server then it said connection timed out. I decided to create an account on mojang but then they are asking me to pay for it! I already have the full version and i'm very bored of playing single player.

Arrow designs for signs in Minecraft?

Nothing that's for copying and pasting, it needs to be something you could type with a regular keyboard. I had a design that went like this: ---->---->----> But there's a bug now making the signs pop off if dashes and arrows are on the bottom line (Only on the server I play on). Using spaces look kinda ugly and it's harder to tell if you got the right amount in there.

I'm Bored of Video Games, What Else Should I Play?

I already have taken up a few hobbies like computer programming and trying to learn a language and instrument, so please don't tell me to try to find something else to do besides play video games.

Usually on Saturday I have nothing to do, and I turn to playing video games for leisure to take a break from everything else. I have already tried many games, and I don't have many because I dedicate most of my time on just a few at a time, like Pokemon (600+ hours, most of it is spent idle while I look for trades on Showdown and self breeding), Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (also a lot of time spent farming), Terraria (I play with my brother a lot), Minecraft (I used to own a server and was co-owner on my brother's so that has a lot of time logged too), Warface, TF2, and Portal 2.

I'm a little bored of shooters because they're most of the games that are popular right now. Just want another game to spend my Saturdays on when I'm feeling lazy. Any help?

How much bandwidth and data does a Minecraft server use?

I go on a server which only about 5-8 players join each day. I usually go on this server for about 1 or 2 hours, and I d like to know how much data and bandwidth I'm using in that time period. Note that this server has a few plugins, even though, I don't know if that changes anything.

Minecraft Server Port Forwarding Issue?

Okay I'm trying to host a private Minecraft server from my PC for my friends and I to play together. I have read many guides on how to set up the server. I know my external IP my router IP (which is dynamic, it assigns the connected devices different IPs each time they connect), and my PC's IP. I have managed to assign a static IP to my computer so that the router won't change it and it will always be the same. Static IP is complete, the next step is to log into my router and open port 25565 and forward it to my computer's static IP, 192.168.x.xx. I logged into my router, forwarded port 25565 to my static IP, checked the box to open the port, and all that is done right. I then downloaded the server application from Minecraft.net and ran it. I accepted the EULA agreement and made sure the used port was set to 25565 in the server's settings. I left the Sever IP space blank in the server settings, since all the guides say to leave it blank. When I have the server application running, I can connect to my own server by typing in my computer's static IP address. I got my public IP address and gave it to my friends, but when they try to connect to my server, it says the connection is refused. I had them try every IP address I could find: My private/static IP, external IP, and router IP. Nothing ever worked. They tried every address including typing the port at the end, it never worked.

Added (1). I turned off every firewall, anti-virus/malware program, and all router security features and they still could never connect. I used an online tool that would tell me if my port was actually open and every program still says port 25565 is closed. But I've done everything right, to my knowledge.

Added (2). Can someone please tell me why the port won't open, what some things are I can try to troubleshoot it, or what exactly my problem is? If it hasn't been implied, I'm on the network that I'm hosting the server from and my friends are trying to connect from outside my network.

Minecraft Building Ideas For Survival?

So I've been playing survival in minecraft on my main world I only play vanilla minecraft I don't even go on servers or anything. But I have one question I need some building ideas. Theirs a list below of what I've already came up with (not have build yet)
Also I'm playing most recent version 1.8.8
Automatic Melon Farm
Automatic Gold Farm
Automatic Iron Farm
Automatic Sugar Cane Farm
Massive Tree Farm
Automatic Wheat Farm
Automatic Egg Farm
Automatic Cow Farm
Automatic Chicken Farm
Automatic Sheep Farm
Automatic Pig Farm
Automatic Pumpkin Farm
Automatic Village Breeder
Nether Portal Room
Automatic Obsidian Generator
Automatic Furnace System

Added (1). Also I'm trying to make everything in my world be automatic.

Minecraft lagging on online servers?

My mineraft runs smoothly in single player, but when on online servers (Wynncraft, Hypixel, HiveMC, etc), it lags like hell anyone have an idea on how to fix it?
Laptop specs:
AMD A8-6410 APU with AMD Raedon R5 graphics
8 GB RAM
Running Windows 10 64 bit

How to get a modded minecraft server?

I can get the normal minecraft, without any mods, to run a server properly. However, when I try to run a server that is modded, it keeps crashing.
I don't know why it is doing that. Anyone can explain please?
Trying to mod a 1.8 version, of pixelmon on a server.

Can't connect to my server in minecraft?

I'm setting up a server for minecraft so my friends and I can play together. I followed all the rules, port forward the router, add all the details and IP, use the public IP address for friends, but they couldn't join (stuck at "connecting to server") here is what I exactly did, maybe I have done something wrong?

- Find the "Default Gateway" using "cmd"

- Enter the number in the internet browser (I used Google Chrome)

- Go to "Forwarding", "Virtual Servers" and add a new server.

- Service port:25565
- Internal port:25565
- IP address: ***.***.*.***
- Protocol: All
- Status: Enabled

Router: TL-WR841N

and yes I did follow by this website: http://portforward.com/games/