Can't connect to some web sites

[meandher57]

Brand new HP laptop, just out of the box. Brand new copy of Vista Premium.
Yet I am unable to connect to some (seemingly random) websites. For example,
I was attempting to download a copy of Avast but I could not get to their web
page. IE just never connected. Same with download.com. Finally got a copy
from PC world website, but I can't connect to Avast to download the updates
or register the product. This works fine from my work computer. Can't
access my isp home page -sympatico.msn.ca, however I can access the news
page. I believe that this problem is also affecting my ability to use
windows mail with my isp's preferred settings. If I go back to my OLD
settings (different pop3 server) it works fine, but if I change to the new
server it won't connect.

Help???

 

[~Alex~.:MVP Windows Shell/User:.]

IE in Vista runs in a secure protect mode. Right click the IE icon and Run
as Admin should solve this.

 

[meandher57]

I will try that when I get home. How would that affect Firefox though??

 

[Mick Murphy]

I would be checking 3 things.

An update for your NIC; which I doubt is needed.

Your ISP's Vista compatibility, as both browsers don't work properly.

Right-click on your Network Connection, and disable TCP/IPv6.

 

[meandher57]

Thanks for your time and suggestions. After spending most of an evening
online with two different technicians from my ISP, they determined that the
fault lay with HP - the notebook manufacturer.
After spending the rest of the evening online with HP and reinstalling
Vista, they determined that the fault lay with the ISP.
So I took the notebook back to the store for a refund, logged onto my trusty
old Win 2000 machine, and things are going smoothly.
Nobody suggested disabling TCP/IPv6...but they made lots of tweaks to v4.
We were able to 'ping' every site we tried, but none of the secure ones
would load in a browser.
And when I returned it to the store, their technician had it up and running
on their wireless LAN in no time. Including the secure sites.
Any chance an outdated Alcatel model might be the problem? Eventually I am
going to have to make the jump to Vista and do this whole thing today. Not
today, however.
Thanks everyone for your assistance!