Someone told me to post this here.

Someone from my original post at Networking told me to post the attached log here.

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46147.0.html <--(original post)

I also just tried to ping blocked websites using cmd and it said "Connection Timed Out"

[saving disk space - old attachment deleted by admin]

Let me take a look...

1. Your HJT log is basically clean. You may employ one "cosmetic" rather fix:
- O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {0BF43445-2F28-4351-9252-17FE6E806AA0} - (no file)

2. I can't see any firewall listed, unless you use Windows firewall.

3. Your IE version is outdated. I suspect some Windows updates missing. Run Windows updates.

I don't get what you mean by "cosmetic" fix.   As for firewall, my Norton Security Online says it has a firewall running. I'm going to run updates now (lol i had it set to update at 1 AM so no wonder it never ran unless i stayed up)....but how does this help me with my problem?

I don't get what you mean by "cosmetic" fix.

I'm sorry for not being clear. There is nothing dangerous showing up in your HJT log. There is only one unnecessary entry:
- O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {0BF43445-2F28-4351-9252-17FE6E806AA0} - (no file)
Run HJT one more time, put a checkmark next to the above entry, and click on "Fix it" button. You're done.

As for firewall, my Norton Security Online says it has a firewall running.

Hmmm....I can see your Norton antivirus running, but not firewall.

how does this help me with my problem?

I can't tell you, it will. I've been trying to eliminate possible culprits.

Ok, I deleted the unnecessary entry, updated Windows <---(took forever it needed a lot of stuff!) and made sure Norton Firewall was up...but the web pages are still blocked.

Two more things to try:
1. Get TCP Optimizer: http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php
and see, if it helps.
2. Restart in Safe Mode, and see, if you can connect from there. Be quick, you have no protection in Safe Mode.

1. Get TCP Optimizer: http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php
and see, if it helps.

What do I do with this program? (it doesn't install or anything, it just opens.)

When you open it, you'll see a checkmark in "Current Settings".
Put a checkmark in "Optimal Settings".
Click "Apply changes" button.

OK, I ran TCP Optimizer like you told me to, and tried to get to the websited in Safe Mode, but neither seems to have helped, because the websites are still blocked. Here's some other stuff I can think of, not sure how helpfull this is but...
 -Using a Linksys wireless router (this computer is connected through a cable to it though)

-I can reach the websites if I use an anonimyzer (I use the server 66.98.238.8 when I need to reach the blocked website) .

-If I try to ping the websites using the cmd command "ping xx.xx.xx.xx" it won't work (it says connection timed out). So I don't think the problem has to do with the browser.

-If I use a laptop to  connect to the router, the websites DO work on the laptop.

-The websites (off the top of my head) that don't work right now are ign.com, walmart.com, and billboard.com.  Billboard was the first one to go out, then a while later IGN, and recently Walmart went out as well (they didn't all get blocked at the same time, it happened one website at a time.)

If I use a laptop to  connect to the router, the websites DO work on the laptop

Through hard connection, or wirelessly?

Also, bypass router, and connect your desktop straight to your modem. Try Normal. and Safe Mode.

I connect the laptop wirelessly.  I also just bypassed the router, but it killed my connection completely.

You didn't do it with computer on, did you?
If so, turn your computer off, disconnect modem from power source for 30 sec, plug it back in, restart computer, and try again.

Maybe norton is just blocking the websites?

Maybe norton is just blocking the websites?

He tried Safe Mode. It didn't work.

[Mod & Malware Specialist]

Is your problem only happening in IE?  Have you tried another browser such as Firefox?
Also, just out of curiosity, go to the following folder...

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

Open up the HOSTS file in Notepad, then copy all of the contents and post them here.

No I use Firefox always so it can't be a problem with IE.  Plus I've tried to Ping blocked web sites with CMD but it also says connection timed out, so I'm thinking it's not a browser problem.  I also tried bypassing my router but it didn't help (the laptop gets to the websites fine wirelessly, so I don't think it's a router problem either...)  Here's the stuff inside my HOST file:

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
#      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
#       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host

127.0.0.1       localhost
10.254.254.253   Xdrive

Something unclear here, so...
Do you use XDrive?

Then, when I check xdrive.com IP address, it says: 64.12.156.129, not 10.254.254.253

This is what I'd do.
Write down this line:
10.254.254.253   Xdrive

Open your "hosts" file in Notepad, and delete the above line. Go File>Save.
Restart your computer.

Yea I do use Xdrive (although it has started to act weird lately...it never finishes uploading, it always gets errors).  I deleted the line you told me to, but the websites are still blocked.

In this case, I'd recommend CLEAN reinstall of Firefox.

Get a fresh copy of Firefox (don't install it, yet).

Get MozBackup: http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/ to backup your data.

Read here:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox
how to completely uninstall Firefox.

Install fresh copy of Firefox.

Hey! I've been trying to do this but I didn't know how.  So I did it, but the web pages are still blocked (IE can't get to them either, so I'm thinking it's not a problem with the browser).