"The page cannot be displayed"

[dmb06851]

This problem has started recently and happens frequently when following links.
I can't think of anything I have done which may have caused it.
I ran the Sytem File Check which I just read about in the recent thread "explorer.exe error" but this hasn't cured the problem.

I tried turning ZoneAlarm off - and switching on XP's own firewall, also without effect.

Can anyone suggest what else I might try please?



p.s. (added a minute or so later)

I had thought of re-installing XP. Apart from the patience needed while auto-update takes care of everything afterwards (although I do have an ADSL connection), which I presume it will, is there any reason why I shouldn't?

[mercman90]

Have you tried the following:
-Repair your network connection?
-Refresh the page once you get the cannot be displayed message?
-Gotten a similar message in another browser (e.g. Firefox)?
Another problem which may be beyond your control is a problem in the DNS server of your ISP. You'll be able to go to an IP address, but not the domain name (216.239.57.99 vs. google.com). Does this problem happen only on a specific site, or almost every site?

[dmb06851]

Thank you mercman90 and please excuse the lateness of this post.

Other, nastier, things started to happen so I ended up re-partitioning and re-installing the O.S.

Thank you for your response.