Vista - internet explorer connection problems in vista

I am having problems connecting to internet explorer on my laptop. Whenever
I hit my e buttom to connect, the site opens, then I get a message that
internet explorer cannnot open the web page. I cannot get on the internet. I
am connected to the internet through my wireless connection and I know I am
connected because I have a google side bar that gives me the current weather
and cnn news. That is connected and up to date, but I cannot connect to
internet explorer. I have tried to type in all different web sites, but it
keeps coming back that internet explorer cannot open the web page. If anyone
can HELP, please do and I ask that you put it in as simple language as
possible, for as my user name implies, I am a computer idiot.
Thanks

"rackcomputeridiot" <u43384@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:83a9058a16af1@xxxxxxLook in "Control Panel/Internet Options/connections/Lan settings". Is it
set to automatically detect settings? Is anything entered for the Proxy
server and is it checked?

Yes the automatic detect box is checked and no there is nothing in the proxy
server

Victek wrote:

I don't know if it will help, but perhaps going to your wireless (router)
setup page and checking all the settings? I had a friend with a linksys
router that was having connection issues (though she has XP and did not have
sidebar gadgets still reporting she was online) and she had to clone her MAC
address a couple (yes, a couple) of times and then her connection through IE
was fixed.

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"rackcomputeridiot" <u43384@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:83a9ed93b673b@xxxxxx

>>> I am having problems connecting to internet explorer on my laptop.OK, in "Control Panel / Internet Options / Security" check to see that the
settings for each category (Internet, Local, Trusted, Restricted) and
restore them to default if any have changed - select the category then click
the default if it is selectable. If that doesn't help then I suggest you
install Firefox to help isolate the problem. Do you have another computer
or a friend who could download it for you and put it on a thumb drive? The
idea is if Firefox works then you know the problem is isolated to Internet
Explorer. If Firefox doesn't work then you have a problem that is more
general.