Did you update your IE6 at M$'s site? There are a few updates to be had after a reformat.

Yes all updates are current.
It did this after reformatting, before the updates were done, and still did the same thing after the updates were completed.
Thanks

Maybe your DHCP server is not renewing your lease? Next time you get the DNS error, open up a DOS box and type in ipconfig /all
to see if you still have an IP...or anything other than 169.254.x.x

One suggestion is to hard code with static IP and DNS servers instead of relying on DHCP.

Whenever I have problems connecting to the net, I do check my IP address - if it's 169 etc I do release and renew it. With a 169 number I cannot access anything at all - and as I said when the browser goes down I can still chat on msn messenger and get the mail in and send it out.
Thanks so much for this help Chanto

Does your web browser connect thru a web proxy server or are you running some sort of web caching software? firewall software? Check the proxy setting under Tools --> Advanced --> Connection. If haven't yet, click off all proxy settings to see if that'll fix it or not.

All proxy settings are turned off. I'm using PC Cillin for my AV and firewall.
Web caching software? I don't think so - not familiar with this.
Thanks for trying to help me on this.

Your next step should be to check for spyware, at least to eliminate the possibility.
Download HijackThis from http://209.133.47.200/~merijn/files/HijackThis.exe & unzip it into it's own, permanent folder, not a temporary one. Start HJT & press the scan button. When the scan is finished the scan button will change to save. Save the log to a text file & paste it into the body of your post. DO NOT FIX ANYTHING YET.

I hope this helps
Thanks

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 9:16:39 AM, on 4/13/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\Tmntsrv.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Active Monitor\imonnt.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\tmproxy.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\PccPfw.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Active Monitor\imontray.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\pccguide.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\PCCClient.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger Plus! 2\MsgPlus.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\iolo\SYSTEM~1\PopupStopper.exe
C:\Program Files\TuneUp Utilities 2004\MemOptimizer.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\DC++\DCPlusPlus.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\HighJackThis\HijackThis.exe
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://mysearchnow.com/searchbar.html
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {A5366673-E8CA-11D3-9CD9-0090271D075B} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: FlashGet Bar - {E0E899AB-F487-11D5-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - C:\PROGRA~1\FLASHGET\fgiebar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IMONTRAY] C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Active Monitor\imontray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [pccguide.exe] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\pccguide.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCCClient.exe] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\PC-cillin 2003\PCCClient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MessengerPlus2] "C:\Program Files\Messenger Plus! 2\MsgPlus.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [System Mechanic Popup Stopper] "C:\PROGRA~1\iolo\SYSTEM~1\PopupStopper.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TuneUp MemOptimizer] "C:\Program Files\TuneUp Utilities 2004\MemOptimizer.exe" autostart
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Window Washer] C:\Program Files\Webroot\Washer\wwDisp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [Index Washer] C:\Program Files\Webroot\Washer\WashIdx.exe "Christine"
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [Index Washer] C:\Program Files\Webroot\Washer\WashIdx.exe "Christine"
O8 - Extra context menu item: &NeoTrace It! - C:\PROGRA~1\NEOTRA~1\NTXcontext.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download All by FlashGet - C:\PROGRA~1\FLASHGET\jc_all.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download using FlashGet - C:\PROGRA~1\FLASHGET\jc_link.htm
O9 - Extra button: ICQ Pro (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ICQ (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: FlashGet (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &FlashGet (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: NeoTrace It! (HKCU)
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/s...irector/sw.cab
O16 - DPF: {3AF4DACE-36ED-42EF-9DFC-ADC34DA30CFF} (PatchInstaller.Installer) - file://D:\content\include\XPPatchInstaller.CAB
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...8077.313275463
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/s...sh/swflash.cab

You have a CWS infection. Download CWShredder from http://209.133.47.200/~merijn/files/CWShredder.exe & run it. Select the fix button & it will get rid of everything related to CoolWebSearch. Close ALL other programs & windows, including IE, before running CWShredder. Reboot after doing this & post another log please.

Also you should uninstall Messenger Plus as it comes with Lop. You can reinstall it manually & refuse the 3rd party sponsor.