can't connect to msn explorer

I installed Microsoft Money and I have to set up a username through msn explorer so that Money can access the internet to get stock quotes, online banking etc. and it tells me it can't gain a network connection. I can't figure out how to get this to work, please help! I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I have been losing my internet connection at random times while I am connected to the internet, when I try to go to a new page it will tell me DNS server not found. Everything I click on after that gives me that same message. I use Internet Explorer and I have a DSL connection through Verizon. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

I have norton internet security '05 w/firewall(but beginning to wish I didn't) and Money is allowed. When I tried to flush the DNS cache through command prompt it says "cannot flush the DNS resolver cache: function failed during execution" so I couldn't empty the DNS cache. It doesn't seem to be limited to when I run Money, sometimes I will just lose my connection when I'm on the internet and I have to go to the next page or if I go to another website or whatever. But MSN will consistently not let me connect, except my wife has a hotmail account and can log onto that. I don't know if that has anything to do with anything.

 

yes, xp is what I'm running. I did what you said in the control panel and then tried to empty the cache in safe mode, regular mode, as the administrater and under my own account and this is what it said every time

 

oh, I forgot to answer your other instructions. I actually did post in the malware removal forum and went through that process until my HJT log was declared clean not more than a week ago. ARGGGHHH....I am trying to connect to msn explorer (what I have to connect through to set up my account) with the firewall disabled and it worked.....I knew it would do that, I was just testing you How do I connect to this with the firewall up? I will try to figure that out, but any pointers would help this fool. Also, I'm still not understanding why I can't flush dns cache and why I lose internet connection randomly while I'm on the internet. Thanks for the firewall tip.

 

man, you've got some trained eye to notice that! so I took care of that, it didn't say anything after I did it so I assume it worked. I haven't had any problems with the internet today either so maybe that fixed it! And no, this is the only computer in the house. I will read those articles and get to work and let you know how things go. Thanks for all the help so far!