>Here's one more issue that *could* be at play...
>
>A few months ago my ISP changed equipment (they didn't announce tis in any way, and I didn't know about it) and suddenly some sites that I frequented were coming up as "not found". This included the Microsoft.com site.
>I called my ISP and they said all was OK at their end. After more fruitless digging I opened a support call ($$$) with Microsoft.
>MS came back a day later saying nothing unusual that they could estimate, and to call back the ISP.
>
>I called ISP back and countered anything they suggested. Eventually the guy told me that some other users were having trouble getting to different sites. I tried a couple he named and couldn't get them either. THEN he mentioned the equipment upgrade.
>It turned out their new equipment was more 'sensitive' to MTU setting. He suggested a setting, I changed it, re-booted, and tried and it ws OK.#$#@!@##@$%
>
>So **maybe** your MTU setting needs changing.
>
>good luck

Thanks, Jim. I guess, I just have to carefully examine all configuration settings... The problem is that I understood very little in it.