Hmm, this is a weird one.

I have a computer here, running XP SP1, that can ONLY access AIM (havent tried MSN). It works fine on AIM, however when I try to browse the Internet or download email, it just won't go.

In addition, I am unable to browse the home network I have set up. I have 5 other computers hooked up to the same network, and even tried hooking a laptop up to the same port that this comptuer is using, and the laptop worked fine. It's a Linksys 4-port router, you know, the one everybody has

Haven't done any major changes on the PC lately.

A ping to www.aol.com or www.google.com is unable to find the host, so DNS is broken as well.

Tried a new network card, tested the line with another computer, the line works fine and a new network card didnt do anything.

Any clue what it might be?

out of shear curiousity, in XP have you setup manully the gateway of the router and any DNS information? I know it sounds silly, but it might be worth a try to see if you can at least browse.

I dunno if this is a silly question/suggestion but you dont happen to be using the home edition of XP do you? I had numerous internet connectivity/networking problems with the home edition - professional seems to be wayyy better.

I had problems with the pro version so that I gave up on it and installed the home version , and its been running for about two months now without a hitch...

XP is very very very hardware funny...