I've been running W2k-SP4 for a few years with no problems on a 2.8 Ghz Pentium 4 pc. Suddenly, I can no longer access the Web through Firefox (call to Google hangs) nor my router. On the other hand, I ping www.google.com and the router successfully. Furthermore, Avast updates itself normally. Last, but not least, if I go into the Connection Wizard, the "Connection to Internet" option (2nd on the list) is grayed out, while all other options are available. I ran an SFC /scannow to no avail. I'm really stuck because I have important programs on it. I restored a week-old copy which I had saved on an external disk. No change. I am reporting this bug through one of my laptops going through the above-mentioned router in an ADSL environment.

Run WinsockXPfix: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsoc... It says XPfix, but it will work all the way down to 98se. When you run it for the first time, it should say "Windows 2000 detected" on the main splash screen. That should fix any weird issues with the winsock stack. I would also check in your network connection properties to see what protocols are being used. You really only need TCP/IP Internet Protocol, unless you have some strange Netware or DLC based printers on your network. MrExacta -`

Problem solved. I stopped the Web Shield in Avast and everything works fine now. This problem does not appear in XP. Must come from the last Avast update I had. Thanks for your suggestion anyhow. It'll be useful in a different but similar case.

Opps, wrong post I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you goober.