go to the command prompt and type "ping 192.168.0.1" with out the " where the 192.168.0.1 is put the ip address off the working pc and do this on the not working one and press enter. It should say if it get a reply or not

ok (all this c:\ stuff makes me feel like I'm back in college)

Ok, I pinged my laptop from the not working computer and it replied.

now what?

ok we will see if we can get the web to reply do the ping thing but where the ip address is put **.www.pchelpforum.com.** do you get a reply? remove the stars and extra . at each end it kept changing it to a link on me

the ping to freepchelp.com worked.

ok this must be a browser configuration issue try this for me open internet explorer and...

1.Click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options.2.On the Advanced tab, click Reset.3.In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset. 4.When Internet Explorer 7 finishes restoring the default settings, click Close, and then click OK two times. 5.Close Internet Explorer 7. The changes take effect the next time that you open Internet Explorer 7

no luck. what is also strange is that I can't get ie to change my default address -- it keeps changing it back, or it seems to ignore what I put in. Also, if I open up Norton AV and click to go online, I can access the symantec website, but can't go anywhere else.

Also, I was unable to ping my hardwired computer, and it was unable to ping the non-working computer (previously, I was pinging the laptop) After turning off my hardwired computer, I double-checked the non-working computer, still no dice. Maybe I should just bite the bullet, back-up the kids' music files and start over and reinstall XP?

Let me know if you have any other ideas.

Sound like you may have some malware or virus in the PC follow the instructions here and post back the results http://www.pchelpforum.com/hijackthi...a-prework.html