Ok, here goes, got my wireless modem router up & running and almost all was good, except I couldn't download my email via Outlook '03 and couldn't connect to Google earth so I played around with the netgear firewall, then took off norton internet security, I then tried to connect to the net and couldn't make a connection at all...I was connected in the sense that I had a globe on the connection and if I put the IP address of a site into the address bar it will connect but it can't turn the IP into the URL...??? I am begging for help but don't expect any / much cos it seems a little mind boggling...

NB: I have an unknown tendency to turn off sys' restore so cant go down that path. And if it helps it's Vista home basic...

:help::help::help::help::help::help:

I believe it is something to do with a DNS server but all I know about that is what DNS stands for

Enter the IP address of your router (192.168.1.1 or whatever it was) as the DNS server in the network connection in vista.

I'm assuming by that you mean >tcp/ip4 > properties > use a static DNS? If you do I have tried that to no avail, it is however already set as the DNS server. If it is of any help I have a desktop running through ethernet and that is working fine, is there anyway I can just reset all connections to default and start from scratch or am I going to have to re-install Vista?

I have stopped system restore

Unless there's a reason to use static IP settings then leave it all on DHCP as it's easier.

Check your routers config screens and see what DNS servers (if any) the router is set to use and post them here, also let us know your ISP.

Try running

ipconfig /flushdns

from a command line in case the DNS resolver cache has become corrupted.

Also if you've been using Norton it doesn't always disable itself properly, sometimes you have to uninstall it (which is a good idea anyway as it's a badly implemented buggy firewall - plenty of better alternatives for free).

Check the routers firewall settings to make sure it's not blocking your DNS traffic.

From another command prompt run

nslookup bbc.co.uk

and post any error messages on here although hopefully by this point it should be resovled.

Plan B, I have decided to do what I should have done a long time ago....get shot of Vista, nice looking GUI but it's as unstable as a fireworks in a furnace...when you get problems with it they just increase ten fold...Bye bye Vista, you will be sadly missed.

Vista isn't a good OS but your problem is DNS related. Reinstalling the OS will resolve it though unless the router isn't set up properly.