Unable to access websites when using http

Sounds like they are having an issues with the HTTP Port. HTTP uses port 80, so try troubleshooting
there, on their PC, and any firewall or router they might use.

FTP, GoToMyPC and Skype all use different ports.

i have looked at the router for the internet and the http protocol is checked for outbound traffic. i have restarted the router and run through the setup wizard as well with no luck. i am able to ping websites and get a reply.

Download this and throw it on an FTP fo the client can access it. Have them pull it from the FTP and run it.

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html

Is it multiple PC's or one? Unlikely it would be multiple PC's but that is typical if you have Winsock corruption. If that is suspected try Microsoft's solution:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811259
Or a 3rd party tool:
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html

Sorry simsjrg, I didn't refresh before posting.
Another option is the lspfix.
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/lspfix.html

>> Sorry simsjrg, I didn't refresh before posting.

No problem it happens to me all the time :-)

it is multiple PC's. would this still point to a winsock corruption?

It's very possible, but much like a virus not often does it affect multiple units. You could try one as a test machine.

i ran the netdiag /test:winsock /v test recommended by MS and the test passed.

Mmmmm...
Because ftp.microsoft.com works I assume that it's not related to name resolution, but another thought is can you access a site by IP, such as Google:
http://64.233.187.99/

I cannot connect to websites using the ip address.

-I assume there is no proxy server between the clients and the Internet?

-Also, I know you checked the router for protocols, but some also allow filtering of web content, using either allow only the following list, or block the following list. If the former was enabled by mistake with no sites added, all Internet http access would be blocked.

i checked that as suggested and all is open. i do not have a proxy on the network. Is there anything on the SBS that is applying a policy to stop HTTP. I have had a look and not seen anything obvious in the policies in Active Directory.

Nothing in SBS default configuration that would block it, and there is not much that could be easily or accidentally enabled that would do so either.
There was a similar question here a while back where group policy was set somehow to enable "use a proxy server" for port 80 in Internet Explorer, but none configured. Easiest way to check would be go to a problematic PC and then; Internet Explorer | on the menu bar - tools | connections | LAN settings | check if use a proxy is enabled. As a rule every thing is empty on that page. The option to change will likely be grayed out as it is controlled by group policy, but you should be able to see the chosen options, if any.

This call can be closed and no points awarded as the problem has been sorted out my the ISP. Thanks to those that tried to help.

The ISP was blocking HTTP ?  Odd.

Glad to hear you have it sorted out.

I am not sure they were doing it purposely. They were very vague as to how they resolved it. However they did mention something about another gateway on the network. Not sure how this was the case as I certainly did not install another gateway on the network.

Thanks again for the help.