Can't connect to Microsoft.com ????

[Woodhick]

I can't connect to microsoft.com or any anti virus or malware sites.
I reformated and reinstalled windows 7 and it still won't connect to any of those websites.
 I get a server not responding page.
Is this a virus doing this ?
I d/l malwarebytes on anothe pc and saved it to my temp folder then burnt it to a cd and ran it on the pc with the problem and it only found cookies. No spywear or malwares. did the same with spybot s&d and it came out with a clean report.
I haven't a freakin clue to why I have this problem.

[The Village Idiot]

A lot of the viruses these days install themselves as system files, its a pain. Yes they will block anti-virus programs and their sites too. Really really annoying. I couldn't even bring up Task Manager! That is plain WRONG!

[LC EFA]

Check the contents of the file

\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.

(note that there is NO extension on this file)

Unless you're doing something unusual for the average desktop user - it should contain only one line after the comments

127.0.0.1 localhost

[The Village Idiot]

I didn't open it but its only 1KB, so I assume its okay

[LC EFA]

I didn't open it but its only 1KB, so I assume its okay

One can still redirect a lot of domains and servers in 1024 bytes.

.. But yeah - more than 1K there and you should take a closer look.

[Woodhick]

Well I called Dell and they are sending me a driver cd to install the damn drivers that should have been in the pc to begin with and that the cd should have been supplied with the pc when it was purchased.
What a crock of shieeeeeeeeet.