Hello, I am posting this problem for a friend, since he can't access any internet browsers.

He uses Windows XP. He has tried 3 browsers (IE, Mozilla Firefox, Opera) but none of them work. He does have an internet connection, though, because he can use AOL instant messenger.

Firefox tells him that the operation timed out when trying to contact a site.

IE directs him to the "cannot find server" page.

Opera just doesn't work.

He has tried a system restoration, but it didn't work.

Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

It sounds like his computer isn't taking DNS settings correctly. Try a:

ipconfig /displaydns

This should show the DNS servers being used by the computer's cache. If it's showing nothing or something that should not be there try the following:

ipconfig /flushdns

followed by a

ipconfig /registerdns

Flushdns clears the local DNS cache while registerdns will communicate with the DHCP as well as DNS servers to re-register them. If this doesn't take care of the problem, it could very likely rest in his modem or router if using Broadband.

Thank you very much, I'll pass on the message. I'll post again when I know.