Okay, so one of our offices shares a single cable internet connection through a linksys befsr41 router. The problem is that when they try to log on to secure sites the connection times out. Some simple sites pop right up but other load really slow and the eventually the "this page cannot be displayed" message pops up. When on the phone with tech support at time warner they can see connection fail when that happens but they can still reach the modem so they say verything is fine. I have been through everything with time warner and they even replaced the cable modem (after much bitching to my saleman) and the problem still exists. I even hooked up each computer (there are only three) directly to the modem and the problem stills exists. Time warner checked the connection and everything looks good. So, I checked for viruses and there were none found, and the dat files were up to date. I ran spy bot and adaware and while many things were found, nothing out of the usual (gain, gator, etc.). I also disconnected my wireless access point thinking it was some how disrupting things but it made no difference. Well, right when I was about to throw the computers through the wall, I noticed a second network connection on two of the computers. The connection is called internet connection gateway. So, I shut each computer down and went though them one at a time to try and delete this connection thinking it's somehow screwing the lan connection up. Well, it let's me disable the connection but not delete it. Even though it's disabled the connection is still screwed. On the XP machine it shows up in network connections. On the ME machine it shows up as a little icon in the sys tray, and on the 98 machine it does not show up at all. Does anyone know what this connection is? On the ME machine I looked in msconfig and there is something called z client that disables the tray icon but the connection is still screwed. I don't see anything in add/remove programs either. A worm of some sort that's undetectable and unremovable by AVG, Adaware, and spybot? Am I missing something simple? My brain was mush after four hours of messing with it. All three computers are up to date via microsoft and the firmware is up to date on the linksys router. So, finally, I went out and bought a new Linksys BEFSR41 thinking somehow it was malfunctioning. Well, the same thing was still happening even after the new router was set-up. So, is there something I'm missing?

Gateway is just another term for "router". Thus you seeing it is a good thing..should be the Linksys BEFSR41. If I understand correctly, are you saying that you can connect to normal http sites, but you get hosed when you try to connect to https (secure) sites? If I didn't know better, I'd almost suspect a firewall. I didn't see you mention anything about it. On XP the internet connection firewall is on automatically (I cant recall which protocols are allowed by default but if https is not selected it would explain a LOT) Everything you are experiencing would occur. But that would only explain the XPs, not the 98s nor the MEs, unless you have or had a seperate firewall running on them as well. I'd go to MY NETWORK PLACES, Right click on it, select properties, Then highlight the connection you use to connect to router, right click on it, select properties, Up top click on tab labeled Advanced. You'll see the option for internet connection firewall. If it's on, drop down and select settings...that will show you which protocols your are allowing and not allowing. See what it says for HTTPS. Personally I turn the Internet Connetion Firewall Off (simply deselect the option). If it works then you found your culprit. Hope things work out for you. D