IE8/MSN/Chrome/etc. problems

I'm hoping that someone can give me a clue as to what's going on with my machine.

For the last week or so, I've not been able to access any web sites using IE (IE8, which I uninstalled and went back to IE7, with the same result, then Windows update forced me to upgrade again). That didn't matter so much because I mostly use Firefox and Opera, which are working fine. IE just tells me it can't access the (any) website because I'm not connected to the internet, which is wrong cos I'm still getting through with the other two browsers. (and no, I'm not working offline!)

My MSN won't connect and gives me an Error Code 80048820 (I had the latest Live Messenger version, although it's now been uninstalled), but I can access it via the web version, so it's not a problem with my account.

My IIS (now uninstalled) is knackered and won't access the localhost, giving a 500 server error, Google Chrome says I'm connected but there's an unknown error, and all the streaming programs I use, TVU, Sopcast, etc., are all reliant on IE and of course they won't function if IE is having difficulties.

Together with Firefox and Opera, my BitSpirit program still works, and my FTP access via Dreamweaver is still fine. Other programs like SoulSeek still work ok.

I've scanned with Avira, no bad things going on, although I had to do a
manual update because the automatic update thingy won't work. I've scanned with Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware with nothing bad showing up, but again the auto-update features won't function. I've downloaded all sorts of check programs for Rootkits and suchlike, with similar negative results. TrojanRemover also finds nothing.

I've done online checks via various forms, including the Kaspersky online
scanner, also no result. None of the recommendations on other web forums such as GeeksToGo, etc., have given any result either. It's probably something really simple, but I'm losing the plot, I think.

Any advice, clues, suggestions most welcome. My HJT log is below for reference, just in case you need it.

Thanks in advance.

David Kelsey

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