IE won't connect, Firefox is fine.

Tools, internet options, connections tab, LAN settings
-try putting check in Automatically Detect Settings and then OK

-if already checked, try unchecking and OK

If both do not work, try going to the advanced tab and click Reset Defaults and Apply

Hope this helps out

tools, internet options, connections tab, LAN settings
-try putting check in Automatically Detect Settings and then OK

-if already checked, try unchecking and OK

if both do not work, try going to the advanced tab and click Reset Defaults and Apply

Hope this helps out

I'd tried all those things to no effect. In the end I tried, and failed to uninstall IE7 but re-installed anyway, again, and for no apparent reason it worked. I wouldn't bother with IE if I didn't have to.
Many thanks for you time and trouble