IE7 & FF3 not working

[CarbonTerry]

Hey BV'ers,
I built a new computer and installed XP-SP3, Core 2 Quad 6600, 3GB RAM. All was working well. I use AOL, IE7 and FF3 simultaneously on multiple monitors.
I cannot access the 'Net from IE or FF. I get a "the page cannot be displayed" in IE and a server time out in FF.
AOL working fine. I have used this configuration for the last 3 years.
Any thoughts?

Thanx

[Karen Mac]

Reinstall explorer and firefox. Sounds like AOL may have blown the "back browser functions" usually tho its aol that goes down when it does this... can you surf with AOL or just sign on?

Karen

[CarbonTerry]

Karen,
AOL works fine...or I wouldn't be posting here..LOL

[Karen Mac]

Id still reinstall ie and ff. And set none of them.. including aol as DEFAULT. Also check that somehow they didnt get blocked by your firewall.

Karen

[davidundalicia]

I think that Karens right about the firewall especially as you have had that timeout.
Introduce both to your firewall.

[Vasili]

Subordinate FF and especially AOL by making IE the Default Browser (as Windows usually requires). Often AOL will try to install itself as Default, messing up things considerably.

Once IE is Defaulted, you can then check to see that it is also updated, and in reviewing the Update Settings, be able to also select the proper Security/Firewall configuration that makes sense to you (usually predicated on your Anti-Virus utility, as some supply/replace one and others rely on Windows).

[CarbonTerry]

I have tried everything I can think of including all of the suggestions. I did a repair install of windows also.
No Joy
Next up is a new router

[Vasili]

Feel for ya.
Stories like this make me even more dead-set against my eventual evolution to VISTA ....... I am really hoping to keep 2 of 3 XP-Pro desktops "offline" to protect them from everything so I can continue on as I am so habituated. I have my XP-Pro Media Laptop locked down tight as a drum, but I even have a new OS waiting in case I have to re-install!
With all of the problems of VISTA, IE7, and how just about every software title seems to have difficulty dealing with them, I don't know what else to do!

[Karen Mac]

Actually.. Vista isnt that bad in MOST cases.. you can RUN as administrator and set permissions for most anything... just a thought have you tried that yet? right click on the IE icon, permissions, security tab..and add permissions to all users? That MAY be the issues.. same thing with firefox.

Karen

[CarbonTerry]

karen,
No luck there either!!!!!
What is bizzare....sometimes on a restart IE will work and then quit accessing the 'Net later. hmmmm

[Karen Mac]

Then something is blocking it.

Karen

[CarbonTerry]

Karen,
duuuuhhhh... I checked my firewall a dozen times...of course...incorrectly.
Thanks all for helping, your time is appreciated.

[Karen Mac]

Welll DUHHH
Theres more in Vista to block besides the firewall. In the meantime did you CHECK this?

http://www.ie-vista.com/known_issues.html

Also you should activiate the HIDDEN Administrator account so that you can set USERS as admin effectively. check the microsoft site for tips using vista, if you havent.

Also disable all addons in your ie browser... Make sure you have compatible addons like google tool bar for Vista... otherwise it will crash it.. like what you are talking about.

I could give you a list of sites ...but im sure you can search them out yourself when youre done just looking at the firewall.

Karen

[CarbonTerry]

The firewall was indeed the problem with my XP OS.

[davidundalicia]

Now how does that expression go...................lol