Please help, I believe a recent Windows update has somehow blocked Google.com on my laptop. I usually access it via either Firefox or Internet Explorer, and neither browser is getting get to the home page and it is driving me nuts. I turned off the firewall, I checked Security settings and nothing is helping. Is there a way the update could block Google.Com??
I also ran Spy Bot and Ad Aware and Norton and there are no virus that I can find.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can do!
Regards,
Rebecca Ross
rossrmcomcast.net

I doubt it would be the update....if wi-fi turned on?

Yes, it is –

It's weird – I can get to other Google support sites, but NOT if they start with google.com/.....
which is naturally where I have the problem.
I can't find a phonenumber for support either – do you know if there is phone tech support line that I could call?

There's no tech support line.
Does this work: http://66.102.9.104/ ?

YES! I managed to get it to stick as the home page as well...
any explanation that you know of? I notice Mapquest is trying to go somewhere else as well...

The other links I had been using appear to function better if I just remake them, somehow the Google one would not work no matter how many times I typed it in from scratch.
Thanks so much for that IP address!

I have to leave right now, but will check in later to see if you have any other enlightening info me for future reference.

You have a problem with your DNS service. DNS is what turns hostnames (eg. www.google.com) into ip-addresses .. This process needs to be done for every website you visit.
You can switch your DNS Server to 208.67.222.222 & 208.67.220.220
That is the OpenDNS service, which is probably faster than ur original DNS server and doesn't face as many problems..
In Windows XP, you can change your DNS settings from the properties of your connection.
How exactly? https://www.opendns.com/start

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_name_system

OR you can follow the thumb rule of windows troubleshooting

For minor problems: Reboot
For major problems: Reinstall ;)

You could try to flush the DNS from the command prompt. Also check to make sure your HOSTS file hasn't been tampered with by a virus/worm/trojan etc.

Thanks to all of you, I will look into this!

There was a similar thread last September titled
"Google Search (www.google.com) not loading".

   http://blogoscoped.com/forum/107348.html#id107362