wasted wrote:
> Hi
>
> A friend is having problems - from a few weeks ago he was unable to
> access the internet most of the time although email still works. He
> thinks it may have followed from opening an email, but can't be sure.
>
> He is running a Medion computer with XP Home, and uses a Sagem USB
> modem supplied by Talktalk, who is his ISP.
>
> When he opens IE7, most times it gives the "web page can't be
> displayed" message. But just occasionally it will open his home page
> and then other sites for just a few seconds before reverting to the
> error message. He had been using Zone Alarm, but now there is no
> trace of it - it doesn't load, and it's not visible in "remove
> software".


Theres your clue 'zonealarm', almost certainly the zonealarm service is
running, and only allowing internet access to those programmes already given
permission. You should reinstall zonealarm, and then uninstall it, that
should clean it up. If not check that no zonealarm services are starting up
(msconfig).

Gaz