Net Access Problems

[clusterm2]

I have a desktop (Win XP, amd 2400xp) which will not connect to the internet (broadband) when opening Explorer or Firefox from the desktop. However if I go -File-off line-then back on line, it connects, also if I go to XP's Security window and 'search for updates', Explorer opens and I'm on line, anti virus checks for updates and will download them, and Zonealarm will check for updates too, got me puzzled...any ideas?

[arthwollipot]

I've got a friend whose Zonealarm appears to block all Internet access, even though it's settings appear to be telling it not to.

I'll get him to try your trick. If the same thing works, it's a problem with Zonealarm.

[clusterm2]

Unlikely to be Zonealarm as I shut it down (after ensuring XP's sp2 firewall was on) and it made no difference, however I had just uninstalled Norton Security which wasn't that easy and I'm wondering if some remnant of Nortons is causing the problem.

[Soapy Sam]

Can I suggest you turn XPSP2 Firewall off.

Then try.

[clusterm2]

Well everything is back to normal all I can think of is NTL were having problems as my downloads were crawling at times and I mean 1kb/s...How this would effect my browser access I know not...