Okay this has NOTHING to do with GOG or gaming but I don't know anyone else around here and I'm asking you folks before I start using Google.

All of a sudden on my OS I can't get to the internet. When I start it, it comes up but it never actually takes me to a page and there is no popups, no pull down menus, no nothing, just he blank screen with the address window as if it were in the process of loading.

When I try to manually type in a URL again nothing and it's not letting me access any of the tools either.

Any ideas?

FYI I'm on my mother's PC right now but I'd like to get back to my own. I don't think she'd be too fond of me moving into her shop.

And before someone says switch your browser, fine, but I can't really do that if I can't go to any pages. :-(

wifi internet?

I don't have any idea what could be wrong with your current browser, but couldn't you download/save a browser onto a USB memory stick and then install it onto your computer from there?

why would a browser be the problem if he can't even seem to get on the internet.

The way I understand it, he can connect to the internet, the issue is that his browser isn't working.

"All of a sudden on my OS I can't get to the internet"

What is it tinye?

I click on the explorer icon and the window comes up but nothing else, just the blank page with the address bar but no pulldown menus like Favorites or Setttings. There is the address bar there but when I put in an http it doesn't go anywhere. The OS says I'm connected and I'm almost sure it's a browser problem.

Oh and I'm not Wifi. In fact the computer I'm using to type this is on the same setup and obviously it's working fine.

To be able to help, I need a bit more of information like:

OS version
IE version

Anyway, it could be an issue with the hosts file or an issue with your NIC card or cable.

Still, try going into command prompt and do "ping www.google.com" or "ping 173.194.37.114" if the 2nd replies, it is an issue with the hosts files, if both reply, then maybe a firewall issue.

or a DNS problem.

Perhaps one of these?

1) If you have any add-ons/tool-bars/etc then launch IE in the No-Addons mode.

On Windows XP This can be done from the Start menu via this path. Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Internet Explorer (No Add-ons)

For Win7 just type 'Internet Explorer' in the search field inside the Start menu and it should display Internet Explorer (No Add-ons) as one of the results.

If IE suddenly works you'll be one step closer to tracking the source of the problem.

2) Try uninstalling/re-installing your browser. (Difficult since you're having trouble accessing the internet via that machine. However since you have access to another computer maybe you can import the file?)

3) Double check all internet related hardware and any wires they have plugged into them. Maybe something got loose? (It does happen.)

4) Run an anti-virus program if you haven't already.

5) The emergency option. Blank your Hard Disk and re-install everything or recover from a Disk image if you have access to such a backup. (Not recommended unless you've got all your system disks and know exactly what you're doing.)

Sorry I can't offer anything more concrete. :(

Holy shit....that worked.

Any idea what I should do now, just progressively turn on addons until it starts being fucked up again and then I'll know which one is the problem?

The first thing you should do is stop using the pathetic Internet Explorer Explorer (IE Explorer :P) and download Firefox or Chrome.

Normally I don't trust people with negative rep.....I'M JOKING! I actually think you should be the poster boy for why that stupid fucking number is so fucking stupid....anyway....let's say I want to experiment with Chrome or Firefox before signing my life away to it, can I have more than one browser on my OS?

The browser is just an application like any other. So, yes, you can have as many as you'd like.

Do be prepared though, that any browser you install will offer to import bookmarks (a.k.a. favourites) from Internet Explorer (and perhaps any other browsers you might have installed, but after that, any bookmarks you add will not be shared between them.

Well, for start you can use a portable version of Firefox. ;)