I'm using IE 7 and I have a cable modem connection to the Internet, so normally it connects very fast.

But lately, pages have been taking too long to open, or put another way, sites are taking too long to access. At the bottom of the screen for a long time it says "Checking proxy settings." I don't know if that is the problem or not, but if so I don't know how to change it.

Once one page is accessed, then any new tabs I open in that IE window connect quickly to a web site, but if I open a new IE window it's still long.

Does anyone know what might be causing this?

Thanks,
Emily

Try opening IE Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN settings >

Uncheck "Use a proxy server" if it is checked.

If it was already unchecked try the instructions in this post:

http://www.techhelpforum.com/showthread.php?t=3702

Then post a HijackThis log over in that section; not here please.