Hi Jellybean - OK, cleared Cookies, temp files, History. Nothing doing.
Went to Network adaptor and tried to do a repair. Message came up: "Windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following action cannot be completed: renewing your IP address".
I figured from this that it is probably a router issue. BUT THEN: my flatmate called Virgin and connected his machine direct to the modem........and found he was connected to the net but couldn't access web pages!
We'd had a Virgin technician connecting cable TV to another room in the house last week, and the Virgin Customer Service chap said that the technician who'd come to connect the TV had probably mucked something up. Phew!
On top of this I went ahead and Uninstalled my NVIDIA network controller and am now trying to find the driver again!
What a disaster!
Anyway, Virgin are meant to be sending someone out early next week. Cheers for all your help so far and I'll let you know how I get on!
Levi

Your welcome Levi.

The driver can be downloaded from the computer manufacturers website or the motherboards make n model website.

Grrr Virginmedia staff lol.

Hi Jellybean -
Turns out it was a Virgin issue after all. When they installed the cable TV they failed to boost the signal enough to accomodate, it wasn't the router after all. Thanks for all your suggestions, I learned a lot.
On a different matter, yesterday Ad-Aware was asking me to do registry update, all of which I blocked, now many of my desktop icons have converted to lnk files and I can't open the programs! I keep getting the message "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder Options control panel".
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrg gggggggghhhhh!
I know I'm in the wrong forum but any suggestions greatly appreciated! I've been trying many solutions I've found online with no success!
Ta
Levi

Hello again.

Have you tried a system restore to the day before you did not allow AVG to change reg?

Thankyou for getting back to me.Virginmedia speeds are usaly great but they have to sort there workforce and systems out.

To restore the default file associations that come with Windows XP download the BAT file on the link below and run it. It will not restore 3rd party associations only the XP standard ones.

Easy File Associations

Post back if this doesn't work.

Thanks for that.
I've just saved that to my memory stick and will run it when I get home.
Levi