IE and Firefox Won't Connect

Using a hi-speed connection direct to modem - no router. Neither Internet Explorer nor Firefox will connect to websites. Both were working fine until a few days ago. No recent installs or changes of note to cause this.

IE says "Internet Explorer cannot display .... ".
Firefox says "Proxy Server Refusing ..... ".

We can send and receive e-mail using Outlook Express. Using a U3 flash drive in a USB port, I can connect to websites with the Firefox browser that is installed on the flash drive. So the internet connection seems to be working fine - just something in the computer appears to be amiss to keep the resident browsers from connecting. Any suggestions as to what to look for?

 

Firewall or malware would be the top candidates.

Can you ping www.google.com?

Start > Run > enter cmd

That will open a command shell. Then enter:

ping www.google.com

 

Thanks ReggieB,

Ping result is below. We were finally able to link to the internet using a forgotten copy of Netscape but I couldn't reply to your post - no "Reply" button to click. Had to come to another computer to post this. Also, I downloaded Spybot and during the install I got a message that said IE was configured to a proxy "localhost:8080" and asked if I should configure Spybot to that proxy. I ignored it and proceeded to the next step and Spybot installed OK. I have it running now. I tried to run BitDefender but couldn't see some of parts of the "Agree to terms" page so I couldn't get it to run.


PING RESULTS

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator>ping www.google.com

Pinging www.l.google.com [64.233.161.99] with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Reply from 64.233.161.99: bytes=32 time=82ms TTL=245
Reply from 64.233.161.99: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=245
Reply from 64.233.161.99: bytes=32 time=82ms TTL=245

Ping statistics for 64.233.161.99:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 3, Lost = 1 (25% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 80ms, Maximum = 82ms, Average = 81ms

 

Steve and ReggieB,

Thanks so much for your help. The Lan settings did have the proxy option checked. I unchecked it and all is well. Same with Firefox. So we are back in operation, thanks to you.

No firewall changes recently nor any other significant changes lately so we don't know what could have happened. Did have some relatives visiting over the holidays but none would fess up to changing anything.

 

TonyT,

Thanks for the generous offer. I realize that we are in the same general area and I think we have communicated before. I live in a gated retirement community off the parkway and we are captive to a New Jersey based internet/cable provider - Cox is not an option. I did have Cox before moving to the retirement community.

I have my own personal computers behind a Linksys-G router. I was helping one of my neighbors in a nearby apartment and he does not have a router - just a single computer directly connected to the modem.