cannot open webpage

[paglamon]

Suddenly I am not able to open any webpage from either IE7 or Firefox. IE says that the page cannot be displayed.Firefox says that it cannot connect to the server at........But, I can connect to the net in Yahoo Messenger.I have a LAN connection.I tried these things with no result:
1.System Restore
2.Uninstall and reinstall the browsers.
3.Uninstalling/disabling Firewall and Antivirus
4.Running antispyware and antivirus scans in SAFE MODE(also ran Stinger from McAfee).Panda found and disinfected 2 files.
5.Trying winsockfix

I can get reply from pinging (google or yahoo etc.).But I cannot open the page in anyway(either by entering the www address or by entering the ip address).
I am writing this from my niece's PC.So, it may be a day before I can come to you for advice again.In the meantime please lend me your opinions. I will wait for a day before formatting my PC.

[3nt1ty]

try?

maybe reset/cleare out your lan/proxy settings and re-enter?
tryd flush dns?
try ie fix weblink
it solves most ie probs (could be jou need IE6 to test)

just trying 2 help,sorry if no good

[paglamon]

maybe reset/cleare out your lan/proxy settings and re-enter?
tryd flush dns?

Yes.Tried and failed.Did not try IEFix since the problem is also in Firefox.
Thanks for trying to help.

[Chewy]

unfortunately IE and Firefox share the same tcp/ip stack

remove the ethernet adapter from device manager and reboot

I would try the IE fix also

[paglamon]

Thank you both.I will try your methods and if everything goes well,then I will be able to let you know today from my machine.At present I am on a friend's PC. BTW,if these steps do not help,then reinstalling the OS will be the only option,I presume?
And Chewy, do you think the problem is in the DNS configuration or a possible corruption?

[Chewy]

Panda found and disinfected 2 files.

probably something critical

a clean install might be necessary or run windows as a repair disk

[paglamon]

This is strange.I just started my PC to uninstall the Network Adapter as suggested by Chewy.Before that just checked to see whether I could open a webpage.And here I am.Both IE7 and Firefox are doing fine suddenly.What has happened to have cured my problem? I had earlier contacted my ISP about the problem.In fact they were the ones who did the Panda scan through Netmeeting yesterday(without any avail).They then declared that I needed a clean OS install.I have a sneaky feeling that there was something wrong on their part in the DNS configuration which they subsequently rectified.What do you think ,Chewy?

[Chewy]

I have a sneaky feeling that there was something wrong on their part in the DNS configuration which they subsequently rectified.

I would think you are right

had a similar problem over a year ago, good assumption

[3nt1ty]

nice 2 see everything worked out