IE-6 will not open most links that Google search offers me...why?

[joab]

I have a fast Intel pc that does everything just fine...except
Internet browsing.

I use IE-6.0.2900 SP2.

Using Google to search for something will find many links for me to
look at. Almost every sponsored link (the ones on the right side) will
fail to connect. IE tells me that the web sites are down. They are not
down.

In the address box I will see a huge address that has "google" in it
and way at the end will be the real address. If I delete all the extra
junk in the address, I can usually go right to the link.

What is going on?

I have the free Zone Alarm running. I shut it down and there was no
difference. Same with AVG-7.5 anti virus, no difference. Next I
installed Firefox and surprise, I still cannot make the Google links
work.

This is a pain.

Related problem: At some web pages I have to click "Back" several
times to actually go back.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Chopah

 

[Rob ^_^]

Hi Joab,

Check your Hosts file (c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc Hosts (no
extension))
or if your firewall has 'Productivity control' try switching it off.

Either of these may be blocking the links in Google sponsored ads.

Regards.