>Another weird one. This PC has Windows Xp SP3.
>
>I have a friend's XP that he wanted me to fix after it survived, barely, a flood.
>
>What is crazy is that this machine is download and installing automatic updates, yet I cannot get on the Internet with the Internet Explorer Browser. I have confirmed that it is on the Internet; the network icon is blionking and showing packets, and it si downloading automatic updates, so we are conenctred to the Internet. But, no way can I get the browser to go to any common web sites. I've turned off the firewall and that didn't help. I turned the firewall back on, and there is no difference.
>
>Anyone got any ideas on how to get the Browser to connect?

He may have a hijacked or otherwise compromised browser.

Can you Ping outside sites OK?