The Windows host file should really be empty unless you
have added entries yourself.Im not sure whats causing the
problem but check the hosts file as a start
The easiest way to check is by using hoster from
Toadbee.You can press 'restore original hosts' to reset
it back to microsoft's default,
Download the Hoster from here:
http://andymanchesta.com/Downloads2/hoster.zip
Press 'Restore Original Hosts' and press 'OK'
Exit Program.
The only entry you should find in the default host file
is the 127.0.0.1 localhost line and some examples above
this but if you see any entries below the localhost line
first press copy to clipboard so you can paste it back if
needed then press 'Restore original hosts'
Im not sure its the hosts file causing the problem though
as it wouldn't connect to the site if these had been
added to your hosts file with a invalid IP Address and if
the sites are added with the correct IP Then removed from
the hosts file this still wouldnt stop you getting access.
On the bottom right of the screen where it shows a globe
on the status bar and says Internet .When you goto
download.com or cnet does it still show a globe or does
it say restricted ?.
Again not sure if thats the cause either as it would
still open the site it would just limit your options on
there.
Reset the hosts file and if you still cannot access the
site try clearing all your temp files and prefetch files
and see if that helps.
goto start run and type
prefetch
delete the contents of this folder
Goto start the run and type
cleanmgr
clear what you can from here and try the sites again
Regards Andy