"Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F4008878-E8CD-4E2E-87DE-6BE800CFFFC6@microsoft.com
....
> Is there any common program, file, etc. that all browsers use?


They all make connections to TCP/IP sites at port 80.

Can you connect to secure sites, e.g. using protocol https
which typically connects to sites at port 443?

I suspect you have a spyware hijacker which has attempted to take over
such connections and use them (evidently unsuccessfully) surreptitiously.
It would not be interested in other connections which would explain why
you have no trouble using them. It might have difficulty taking over secure
connections which would explain why you might be able to use https
if that is the case.


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---


> The problem involves not being able to connect to the internet most of the
> time when using a browser, and when I am able to connect, it is only fleeting
> in that after one or two links the browser either continues to indicate it is
> waiting for the site, or I get the pop-up box informing me the page contains
> no data, or I receive the “page cannot be displayed” alert.
>
> Part of what has made this more frustrating is that other programs on the
> computer having the problem which must connect to the internet have no
> problem doing so and downloading the required files.
....