> I need help and I hope this is the right place for this particular
> question. I know it seems like a stupid Internet Explorer question,
> but I don't think it is.  I'll explain:
>
> Recently, I became aware that I can't seem to download anything from
> Microsoft - software updates, demos, activex components, etc, and I
> don't know why.  The simplest way to demonstrate this is to go to
> http://download.microsoft.com.  For everyone else, they get
> redirected back to the main Microsoft site.  For me, I get a blank IE
> page saying that the page can't be displayed.  If it's any link to
> this site, I get nothing except that irritating error page.
>
> I have Windows XP SP2 and IE7 (upgraded hoping it would fix this
> problem), and I've turned off any antivirus, antispyware, and
> firewall software.  I have a small home networking Linksys router
> connected to cable broadband - the router was provided by the cable
> company.  There is a second computer on the network that also
> displays the same issue, even though it's mainly a gaming computer
> for the kids and I don't keep it nearly as updated as my own. It's on
> IE6 still.
>
> Now, I find it incredible that both computers could have the same
> glitch that would cause download.microsoft.com to be effectively
> blocked, and I suspect the router, however the cable company assures
> me that the router is working fine and the last guy I talked to
> refused to listen to reason.  I need help so I can either fix it, or
> else have enough info to call them back and tell them what to fix
> since they don't really feel like helping me too much.
>
> If this isn't the correct place to post this question, please let me
> know.
>
> Thanks!

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> In news:0B4DCBE8-CDFE-4198-9E17-B2529C8F0BBD@microsoft.com,
> bman <b***@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:
> > I need help and I hope this is the right place for this particular
> > question. I know it seems like a stupid Internet Explorer question,
> > but I don't think it is.  I'll explain:
> >
> > Recently, I became aware that I can't seem to download anything from
> > Microsoft - software updates, demos, activex components, etc, and I
> > don't know why.  The simplest way to demonstrate this is to go to
> > http://download.microsoft.com.  For everyone else, they get
> > redirected back to the main Microsoft site.  For me, I get a blank IE
> > page saying that the page can't be displayed.  If it's any link to
> > this site, I get nothing except that irritating error page.
> >
> > I have Windows XP SP2 and IE7 (upgraded hoping it would fix this
> > problem), and I've turned off any antivirus, antispyware, and
> > firewall software.  I have a small home networking Linksys router
> > connected to cable broadband - the router was provided by the cable
> > company.  There is a second computer on the network that also
> > displays the same issue, even though it's mainly a gaming computer
> > for the kids and I don't keep it nearly as updated as my own. It's on
> > IE6 still.
> >
> > Now, I find it incredible that both computers could have the same
> > glitch that would cause download.microsoft.com to be effectively
> > blocked, and I suspect the router, however the cable company assures
> > me that the router is working fine and the last guy I talked to
> > refused to listen to reason.  I need help so I can either fix it, or
> > else have enough info to call them back and tell them what to fix
> > since they don't really feel like helping me too much.
> >
> > If this isn't the correct place to post this question, please let me
> > know.
> >
> > Thanks!
>
>
> You can turn your Windows firewall back on, as it isn't related.
>
> If you type this in a command prompt:
>
>     ipconfig /all
>
> ....I'll bet you see the LAN IP address of the Linksys set as your DNS
> server. This is the usual culprit. Sometimes that'll work, sometimes it
> won't. I would go into the Linksys' properties, and in the DHCP options,
> change it so it will give out your ISP's DNS server IP addresses therein,
> rather than its own.
>
> Then on a client -
>     ipconfig /release
>
> and
>     ipconfig /renew
>
> and
>     ipconfig /all
>
> to make sure it 'took' - then try surfin' again.
>
>
>