Unable To Access Some Sites With XP

[dannyp1]

I am using Windows XP and internet explorer.  For some reason I am unable to connect to probably 2 - 4% of the sites that I attempt to.  One of them is Software Hut.  I have done nothing that I know of that should restrict me from going to anything.  Does anyone have any idea of things I can check to find out what the problem is?  When the browser won't connect to a site I get a page saying that it was unable to connect and it gives me the option of checking my internet connection (cable) and when I run the test it says that my connection is fine.        Dan

[Daedalus]

Have you any other computers you could try the site with? It's possible it's a provider issue, maybe an overloaded DNS or something. Also, if you have a router and/or broadband modem, check your settings, maybe reboot them and see if things improve.

On the other hand, it could simply be "one of those things" with IE...

[F0LLETT]

You aint got norton 360 / Internet Sercurity installed have you?

[mikeymike]

How is it for connecting to security sites (avg.com, symantec.com, etc)?  If it has a problem (but not to other sites), you've got malware, almost guaranteed.

Also, what is your system like for searching with google, do you get sometimes random redirection to a site that wasn't what you clicked on in the search results?  If so, you've got malware, almost guaranteed.

Usually your DNS server should be your router's IP, check that that's the case.  If it isn't, and you don't know why, guess what...

[DrDekker]

Try deleting your cookies and clearing SSL state - usually works for me!

[dannyp1]

Not to sound stupid, but how do you clear SSL state?

[amigagr]

you can try to set ie in it's default settings. go to menu, tools/internet options and at the last tab ''advanced'' press reset.

[DrDekker]

Not to sound stupid, but how do you clear SSL state?

Sorry - just click link http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290345

[kolla]

Let me guess, you're on NAT and your router filter ICMP?
Try playing with your MTU settings, or rather... stop filtering ICMP so that path MTU discovery functions again.