Sorry PAB ! Windows XP home v5.1 SP2, IE7, Computer Associates Anti-virus 9,
only Defender, no 3rd Party firewall but Windows firewall switched on. Used
Pipex as ISP for several years without problems.
Thanks for looking into it.
--
Regards, Jack Sadie

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
Windows version? IE version (yes, IE)? What anti-virus application or
security suite is installed? What anti-spyware applications (other than
Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Jack Sadie wrote:
Recently I have experienced several intermittent periods of perhaps 10 or
12
hours when I could not get into Internet Explorer, nor could I access
Outlook Express on line. A check with a friend who uses the same ISP
confirmed that he could access without any trouble so there was no
general
problem at Pipex so far as I could tell.

However I was clearly connected to the internet via my wireless router,
and
even as I watched, my Local Area Network Status showed that packets were
being both sent and received. Furthermore my Anti-virus program was
updated
with new signature files without any problem during the period when I
could
not get access.

I cannot therefore understand where the problem lies. I attempted to use
the
diagnostic tool which displays on Internet Explorer if you cannot get
access, but sadly the log I printed has been destroyed and I cannot
recall
any detail. I do know that it referred to "DNS" and "the server" in some
way, but that may not help.

Any ideas ? Is the connection for my Antivirus Signature download
independent of my ISP - it seems it must be? I obviously don't understand
the mechanism and will be obliged for help.