i would say its a COM port problem with your usb cable,goto control panel device manager/ports and see if you can see the virtual usb port or what ports are available it may be there and need enabling
ok in windows firewall go to exceptions and add a programme and add dream up and allow it i have known this still to stop dreamup whilst firewall was off.
then on device manager right click on COM 6 click on disable then after you see the X in it enable it so you now know its switched back on,after that if that dont work right click on it again and update drivers reinstall drivers for it.
my advise to you now is find a friend with a proper null modem cable and a pc with a proper com port,if you do 15 mins and you should be back up and running.
if you have a straight through null modem cable and a com port yes,but i doubt that the laptop as a com port unless its really old, try it and see but dont switch power on dreambox until it says now switch on,then insert the power lead at the back