Resolved cannot access the windows update site

I can access the internet just fine and surf around no problem. When I try to access windows update nothing happens for maybe 40 seconds and then I get a page that says Internet Explorer cannot diplay the web page. Same thing happens if I go to the MS web site and try to access from their.
I have Windows XP Prof 3, Zone Alarm free firewall and Norton Security Suite. I have tried shutting them down first but doesnt help. I also tried to use this, from an older forum.

Start Internet Explorer.
On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
Click the General tab.
In the Temporary Internet files section, click Delete Cookies.
In the Delete Cookies box, click OK.
Click Delete Files.
Click to select the Delete all offline content check box in the Delete Files dialog box, and then click OK.
In the History section, click Clear History.
Click Yes, and then click OK.
Exit Internet Explorer.



Click Start
Choose Run
In the Run box, type services.msc
Click OK
Right-click the Automatic Updates Service
Click Stop

After Stopping the Service please use Windows Explorer to rename the folder c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

Open Windows Explorer
Navigate to the Windows folder
Click on the + next to the Windows folder
Navigate to SoftwareDistribution folder
Right Click on the SoftwareDistribution folder
Select rename from the Menu
Rename the folder to SoftwareDistribution.old and click Enter
Exit Windows Explorer.

Finally:

Click Start
Choose Run
In the Run box, type CMD
Type: cd /d C:\windows\SoftwareDistribution
Type: rd /s DataStore
Type: Exit

When I get to the part here where I'm supposed to put in cd/d C: etc. I do and I get a message says 'the system cannot find the path specified.
so I can go no further. I have tried leaving out spaces and a variety of things with that command and nothing works.

I also have another strange thing going on. sometimes i get a partial page on a page, the one that says The Web Page cannot be found and then goes on to tell you how to solve the problem. This is only partially visible.

any ideas what the heck is going on?

 

Ya think? so nothing I tried worked

 

I changed the DNS server address and now it works fine.
Thanks,