win xp: nslookup fails, ie fails, telnet fails, ftp fails, ping ext ip works, pin domain in hostfile works -- am very stuck

What are you using for DNS?  Is it coming from your ISP via DHCP?

You might try resetting your TCP/IP stack:
 Click Start->Run->CMD <enter>
 at the prompt, type:

 netsh int ip reset > c:\resetlog.txt <enter>

Netsh references:
 http://www.microsoft.com/technet/columns/cableguy/cg1101.asp
 http://help.stargate.net/broadband/netsh.shtml

To reset your windows sockets, download and run the following:
  http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/central/display/details.php3?installerID=127&nav=title
  http://members.shaw.ca/techcd/WinsockXPFix.exe

 Manual method can be accomplished by deleting the following two keys in the registry:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Winsock2
 and then reboot

yes dns coming from isp -- will try these things.

the nest sh command fails one or more essential parameters not entered
the winsock xp fix was run without effect

Try each item one at a time from command prompt:

netsh
int
ip
reset

deleted address mask and seed

Try going into device manager (start->Run->devmgmt.msc) and remove your network adapter - reboot - xp should reinstall it...

i had put it all in on one line before -- maybe did not like that
but in any case has made no difference.
do i need to reboot? or now do ipconfig /renew?

will do

now booting -- detected hdw -- opened network setup -- renamed computer cyborg, kept degault workgroup mshome  -- now restarting.....

not yet operational
it obtained a lease
got the dns numbers

shows no wins server -- does it nee one of these?

WINS may be needed internally to get to any other local clients - but it's not necessary for internet communication...

So - it's still not working?

You might want to make sure your system is clean...

Check these links for online virus scanners.  It's recommended to run at least two of these.  
  Norton/Symantec --> http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?productid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym
  Trend Micro -->     http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/start_corp.asp
  Panda ActiveScan--> http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
  McAfee Security --> http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp
  Stinger -->         http://download.nai.com/products/mcafee-avert/stinger.exe

These links Check for Spyware:
  Spybot-S&D -->  http://www.safer-networking.org/
  HijackThis -->  http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html
  Ad-Aware -->    http://www.netsecurity.about.com/library/blfreespyware.htm
  Web Shredder--> http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html#cwshredder
  Pest Patrol --> http://www.pestpatrol.com/downloads/eval/download.asp
  PCHell removal->http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml

  Make sure that after downloading these, that you update them.  It helps to try at least two of these.
  If all else fails, download HijackThis and post the log that is generated after running it on your system.

ty but is is brand clean :)

gonna try the netsh gui

scanned every uption on netsh diag gui -- everything passed including ping the dns servers -- something i had already verified manually

nonetheless -- nslookup of yahoo.com gives me

cant find server name for address  dns ip 1

cant fine server name for address dns ip2

hit 2 sec timeout on each

default servers are not available

will run norton av just for fun -- but this is a virgin system

son of a gun!

i put this computer behing my other router which is a netgear fvs318 -- rebooted it and it works great

i am going to use the linksys for target practice!

thanks sirbounty goor good help i learned a lot

ted

sirbounty was very helpful and fast, although it turned out that changing to a different router solved the problem. Thanks.