Internet Explorer secure log in problem

I have windows XP sp2 and recently cleaned out all spyware / malware by following the steps in the spyware forums. The steps posted there worked and I no longer have spyware.

However, now I can search the internet fine but if I try to log into any secure site, hotmail.com, gmail.com etc... any site that requires user name and password, it now give me the message.

"The page can not be displayed"

The top bar says " Cannot find server - Microsoft Internet Explorer"

I am guessing this has something to do with https but I have no idea where to go from here. I am currently running Windows File Protection to see what this give me and I figure I can re-install SP2 to try to get things working again but is there something else I should be looking at ?


Thanks, Sean

(for clarification I used a seperate computer to log onto this site to post)

 

Most common solutions to the problem you describe are found here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;870700
But if it started after spyware removal, your system file check is a very good idea!
There are also so dll files you can re-register for situations like these, so let us know if this does not work!