I'm not sure if there is a virus causing this problem so I have posted it here. Since updating my drivers on my modem (on advice of ISP), I have been unable to access any microsoft website (MSN, hotmail, windows update). I re installed Win 2000 Prof but still have the same problem. I am now running on IE 5 so I am probably missing loads of updates. I have 128 bit security. I have run anti-spyware and virus checks and nothing is showing up.

I can get all mother websites, if I try to access a Microsoft site, I get 'Searching for website, Website found, waiting for reply', blue bar scrolls half way before getting the 'Page cannot be displayed icon....DNS error'

I'm not sure if I have some settings wrong somewhere, I am a complete novice at this sort of thing so I don't know where to start looking.

Any suggestions.

OK, let's just clarify a couple of points so that we all know exactly what we're talking about. You had a problem accessing Microsoft sites (but not other sites) and your ISP helped you with some troubleshooting over the phone and then told you to update your modem drivers? This didn't help? You re-installed Windows 2000 and have exactly the same problem? Or something a little different? All other web sites still work?

Sorry to ask you the same stuff again but this is an unusual problem. It initially sounds like a virus/spyware related problem because only the Microsoft sites seem to have been targeted. However, if you re-installed Windows, then that problem would have been cleared out. I am assuming that you did a complete re-install of Windows including wiping the hard disk and starting from scratch? Or did you just do a 'Repair' install?

I had a really slow connection, and after contacting by ISP by phone, they advised to download the update drivers for my speedtouch modem 330. I did this and the connection is much faster, but since then I have been unable to access any microsoft website. I have AVG virus installed. (And have since intalled zonealarm but only after the problem started).

Since spoke to ISP again and they have advised installing IE6 (as fresh install (not repair) has take IE back to 5. Advisor reckoned if I got IE6 then I should be able to get back on msn sites??!)

If you have gone into Add/Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel and then removed Internet Explorer and added it again, this reinstalls the original version that shipped with Windows 2000, which is Internet Explorer 5.0.

I don't see why the advisor thinks that installing IE6 will get you into Microsoft sites. However, I do think that it is worth doing anyway just for the fact that you have an old version of Internet Explorer, which is showing a problem so upgrading to the latest version will reinstall the files and possibly fix the issue. If it doesn't, at least we'll be on the latest version of Internet Explorer, which more of us are familiar with here, so it will be a better place to start troubleshooting.

You can download IE6 from the Microsoft web site at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en. Download the setup package and then run it. You will then be connected to the online installer, which will download components based on the options that you choose during the installation.

I don't think upgrading to IE 6 will solve the problem either, but it is worth doing - only problem is I am still unable to access microsoft websites including windows updates/downloads. Arragh!

UPDATE

After ringing my ISP numerous times and talked through very basic troubleshooting with no success, taking my computer in to a looked at in case it had a virus (it was working fine), and then finally ringing ISP to cancel the contract, I finally got to the bottom of the problem. The customer service man who was dealing with my cancellation said he knew the problem was with the speedtouch modem, and he was surprised no-one from the ISP had sussed the problem. So I now have a new wireless router from the ISP and a better broadband deal and fully functioning internet! Phew!

Nice one! Thanks for the update

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