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Win XP and IE: Can browse Internet but CANNOT download or read/compose email

I receive a new Dell Inspirion 1000 laptop PC in December 2004 (just 2 months old). I notice that I cannot read yahoo email, run Norton LiveUpdate or download any software/files from Internet. However, Hotmail email works. I'm wondering if there is some setting in XP or IE that turns on/off ability to download yet leaving the ability to browse. I have deleted temp internet files and cookies. I increased the space allowed for temp internet files(in IE). I even ran PC Restore by Symantec. I can browse most internet websites. I noticed that I cannot browse CNN. I can ping my network card and get a response. I can ping dell.com successfully. My effort to get Dell Support to assist are so far unsuccessful. Any ideas would be sooooo appreciated.

getzjd

If you can get to websites such as this one and cnn.com etc.. , I would suggest running adaware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

and spy bot search and destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

See how things go after that...

rikke_vp

Also check your hosts file.. Some spyware/adware and virusses screw with it.. Check that the sites in there are the same as the one's you can't browse.

Only a route from your loopback adress to your localhost should be in there.
Looks like this:
127.0.0.1 localhost

DabRain

Try disabling your firewall and see if you can browse like never before, if so then this is your problem.

Also try installing firefox and see if there is any difference in the sites that you can browse, if so then you have a IE settings problem and I would advise running firefox anyway.

dunnhangout

ASKER

Thank you for the good feedback. I did try disabling the firewall. Yet that did not work. I ran Norton 2005 yet no adware/spyware detected. (My version of Norton 2004 has detected adware/spyware on my desktop.) Nevertheless, I will load and run spybot and firefox as suggested.

rikke_vp, how can I learn more about localhost? Or, how do I check the local hosts file in WinXP?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

rikke_vp

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rikke_vp

Hey,

are you still having this problem?
Is it solved?

Reply and spread points plz,

Regards,
Rikke

dunnhangout

ASKER

rikke_vp, your answer helped me determine the final solution. In the end, the problem was the cable ISP. The network was too slow. Once we increased the speed, all worked great.

Thank you ALL for your suggestions!

rikke_vp

No problem and thanks for the reply ;)

ISP's and there tech guys... tsss...