PROBLEM: I cannot connect to certain secure sites. Problem happens with any browser on this computer, IE, firefox, opra, safari, sea monkey, netscape 9. Example one: I log in to my Comcast account but once logged in any link to account features always time out. Example two: I log in to my eBay account but when I try to pay, the link to PayPal always times out. What I have tried on this machine ( no help) : * /release, /renew, dns flush * Multiple browsers * Turning firewall off Second machine on same network via KVM switch works fine. I can connect to any of the sites in question from any browser. Second machine also win2k - sp4. Different MOBO, CPU and Memory. CONCLUSION: Some issue on this particular machine, without regard to the browser, prevents certain web sites from being accessed. In all cases they are secure sites. In all cases it does not matter what browser I am using. All computers on one network using same router / CNS/ DHCP etc. HELP !!

What happens if you connect the machine directly to the modem?

Did not do that because other computer all connected to same network etc is working fine. Also due to the modem/router in a closet remote from computers, not so easy to manage.

I had a similar problem several years ago - I tracked it down to over-large packets which were rejected by the network (max. is 1500 bytes). Dial-up connections worked, but broadband via a modem did not. A NAT header was being added to 1500-byte SSL packets from the websites. The cure was to set the MTU to 1500 - NAT header length (24 bytes I think), resulting in an MTU of 1476. If you would like to try this, but don't know how, post back and I'll help.