When I go to get on the internet "e" explorer nothing happens for a while then I get currently unavailable.....I can get on Network places and my folders on the server...but the Internet is down

Are you on a Network then? Is you internet connection direct from your PC or the server?

i think from the pc ...do i need to know this for sure

Well... if your on a network, the fact you can still get on network drives on the server does not mean your internet should work. If your server has a connection to the internet which you in turn connect to, and its down for whatever reason, then what you are experiencing can happen. Just sounds like your internet connection is down...Can you redial it?