Unable to access web sites with IE6

I am using my local library computer to ask for help with this problem.
I can access the internet, update my softwares, but Unable to access web sites. I have an HP desktop with XP Home with IE6, Service Pack 2.
The hour glass stays there and sometimes I get a message "no page can be displayed ".
I updated ie6 online with MS, still cannot get hold to any web sites.
I even tried to upgrade with IE7 but the installation failed with this message
"this installation does not support your operating system's current Service Pack version "
Any solutions to the IE6 problem? And Why cannot I upgrade with IE7?

Thank you for any help....

 

Hi,
I have enclosed a clip from another source that may help you with your IE7, I am not going to specifically say but there's a possible conflict with your IE6 and IE7...Try the IE7 again and post back:

Microsoft is recommending that users turn off ALL antispyware and antivirus programs during the actual installation of IE7 to prevent conflicts that could cause a failed install, which is extremely hard to fix. Everyone needs to read the release notes and download information on the Microsoft website for Internet Explorer 7 before attempting to download it.

 

GBoss--I understand the "page cannot be displayed" problem started with IE6, so it probably does not have much if anything to do with IE7. (BTW--you should be able to uninstall IE7 from Control Panel|Add/Remove. It is under Windows and you will roll back to IE6. I would do that first.)

So let's concentrate on the "page cannot be displayed" problem with IE6 first.
This is a problem with many possible solutions, which you can see from this reference
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;[LN];326155
If this started recently, you might consider a System Restore to a date before the problem started. (especially if you have added some new hard/software about the time the problem started)
If that does not help, the fixes proposed in Section 3 Parts 1 and 4 in the above reference, may be the next easiest to try.
The only thing that bothers me is your statement "I can access the internet, update my softwares ". So you can reach the Windows Update site, but no other?
In reference to Steve R Jones suggestion, are you using WinXP SP2?

 

There clearly is a DNS failure for some reason. Your TCP/IP stack is obviously okay, as you would not get anything from the internet otherwise. I suggest you have corruption in the Winsock service stacks, a common problem and one easily fixed:

If using XP Service Pack 2:
Start, Run, cmd
netsh winsock reset

Wait for a prompt that a reset is needed. Reboot and test.

For all other Windows Versions:
WinsockFix: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=257id=kb;EN-US;326549

 

unable to access the web

thank you everyone, and Welshjim, I'll try your input first.

 

Thank you everyone for your efforts but none of your input worked. In the end I had to resort to restoring from the last good configuration method
which put me back to surfing the net without a hitch.

Voila