Minor problem

[rustico]

I have owned my IBM 2379dxu since February. I am currently running Windows XP PRO/SP2. A couple of days ago I was unable to access the secure sections of many websites, i.e. Amazon, Yahoo sign-in, etc. I am getting "Page cannot be displayed" messages. I'm not the brightest bulb in the box when it comes to understanding the computer mind. I would greatly appreciate any help and advice I could get to help resolve this annoying minor irritation. Thanks in advance to all that can help.

[GomJabbar]

I may be wrong, but I would tend to suspect a problem with your Internet Service Provider. In particular, with their DNS (domain name server).

There is one other possibility, you may have a problem with your HOSTS file(s). As far as I know, you can delete it, but I would try renaming it first. Go to: Start > Search, and type in hosts and click search to find you hosts file(s). Note: unless the hosts file has a recent date, I would leave it alone.

You can also go to: Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt, and type: ipconfig /flushdns to clear any dns listings in memory.

[rustico]

DKB,
Thanks for the suggestions but neither of them worked. I am not certain that the problem lies with my ISP. There is another computer(desk top) operating off of the same(I am routed) and it is not experiencing any difficulties. Am I correct in this assertion? Thanks.

[Kyocera]

To verify that it is not your PC, do a system restore to a point prior to when you first noticed the problem. To check the DNS, ping a few web sites, from command prompt type C:\> ping www.what ever.com, replace whatever with the web address of a secure web site something like https: //firstbank etc. the "s" designates this as a secure site. Use your other computer to pull up the secure sites and use that URL.
Malware/virus/spyware will modify hosts files but usually use it to redirect your browsing. Like GomJabbar said your ISP may have changed something in their configuration to block the ports you need to access those site, good possiblity there too. Try disabling any firewall you have on your pc, Norton Internet Security, whatever, Zone Alarm. If that don't work and the other desk top can access the secure port. Check internet options ,advanced check ssl 3.0 ssl2.0.

[GomJabbar]

If you can access the secure sites from another PC connected to the same internet connection, then it probably isn't your ISP.

If you are using a firewall, either hardware (in your router) or software, the firewall may be blocking a necessary port.

If you or something have changed any settings in Internet Options in Control Panel, that may be the problem. Compare settings between the ThinkPad and desktop PC.

If you are connecting your ThinkPad to your router via wireless, try using using ethernet.

[rustico]

Thanks to all that offered suggestions to help correct my little difficulty. The problem seems to have been corrected. To tell you the truth I am not certain which of the suggestions offered worked because I don't know if having to re-boot my computer, which I did several times, was part of the equation. I do suspect, however, that the initial fault had something to do with my firewall settings. Thanks again.