Rick,
Your problem and that of the original poster (unless you happen to be
"Dallas") seem to have little in common. I suggest you start a post with
your issues.
Just going by what little you have given (assuming you are *not*
Dallas) -
here's what I suggest:
First:
Check your DNS settings. I will assume you connect to a high speed
Internet
(DSL, Cable Modem, etc) with a network cable. I'll also assume you are
doing this using DHCP. I'm assuming a lot because you have given so
little
at this point.
Start button --> RUN --> type in:
control ncpa.cpl
--> Click ok.
When the "Network Connections" window opens, find the "Local Area
Connection" and right-click on it. Choose "Properties".
This should open the "Local Area Connection Properties" window. Make
sure
you are looking under the "General" tab (top of that window.)
In the "This connection uses the following items" area - left-click
(normal
click to select) on the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and once that is
selected (highlighted) - click on the "Properties" button.
In the new window - "Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically" should be
selected. If not - select it.
Click OK on everything you can to get out, close all windows and open
applications and reboot the computer.
Now we need to check your HOSTS file.
Start button --> RUN --> type in:
notepad %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
--> Click OK.
Any entries in it? It really only should have one line (other than
comments) by default:
127.0.0.1 localhost
You can edit it so that's all that's there if needed. Save it - no
extension.
You should also scan for malware/spyware at this point.
Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with
the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for
this):
SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/
MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/
After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.
Reboot.
You might want to ensure your Windows Update is installed properly...
Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\net stop wuauserv
--> Click OK.
Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\regsvr32 %SystemRoot%\system32\wups2.dll
--> Click OK.
Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\net start wuauserv
--> Click OK.
Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the
root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:
Close all Internet Explorer Windows and other applications.
Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.
(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click
on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...
Reboot.
Come back with some details...
- Specific Operating System and Service Pack level
- What you are talking about. ;-)