I have the same problem........i click the quick launch icon for IE 7 and get the loading icon but then nothing happens.....i have resorted to using the browser on winamp!! i haven't found a way to fix it at the moment but i will and when i do i'll post it up!! Robb

Anyone tried a system restore?

Weird that even after formatting and reinstalling windows you still have the problem.

Has anyone tried another browser? e.g Firefox?

Is you anti Virus up to date? Do a deep scan see if it finds anything.
Look for a good spyware remover, while many of us would consider most spy/malware a virus
seems the Antivirus companies don't. So you may have something installed on your computer
that the antivirus hasn't picked up.

Look around and read reviews, some Antivirus and Spyware removal programs are themselves viruses.

If you've done a clean install and your internet still refuses to connect (what about iother programs like Instant messengers or file sharing clients?) then I'd say the problem is with your network hardware or connection.

Check your IE7 or 8 and Windows Firewall settings, you may of told the computer to block internet access
accidentily, this is why programs like these come with "Default" buttons, try some of them.

Windows update a often overlooked essential.
Are all your official Windows patches and critical updates done?
Using the latest Service Pack 3?

Go through this check list and look for problems, failing that Microsoft make Internet Explorer and Windows
maybe try a little thing called Tech Support, something your net provider should have too.

Hi. Just trying to find out what happened as well. I downloaded and installed IE8 and rebooted. Now when I try to open a browser window, the page flashes for an instant then is gone. I tried re-installing IE7 with the same result. I tried to do a restore but can't get the calendar to come up allowing me to pick a restore point to restore from. I just get a blank calendar. I know I'm still connected because I did an HP update and it worked fine. Other programs that need to connect also work but not Internet Explorer. My other computers are fine because I didn't update them. Whazzup?