Browsers won't load any pages! PLEASE HELP!!

[TOOL11]

I've been searching for a week now and still haven't found a solution to my problem.. I'm beyond frustrated

So here's my issue..

About a week ago, my internet went down in the area.  I didn't realize it was the whole area at first, I though it was just something wrong with our household internet so I unplugged and plugged our router back in [which has always worked before when we had an issue in the house] but no luck. 

My PS3 was telling me it was a DNS error so I went to my router configuration and reset all the settings.  Keep in mind I really don't know too much about all this stuff so I just try things I know how to do and see if it works, haha

So the next morning, I found out the internet was down in our area.  That afternoon it was working again but I still couldn't connect so my brother unplugged, and plugged the modem back in and voila!  it worked again.

Only problem was that half of my browsers would not load pages.  IE worked, and so did Firefox.. but Flock and Opera would not connect.  It was telling me it couldn't connect to remote server.  I tried to install the beta of google chrome, but it said it couldn't connect to the internet to install it.  And I downloaded the Windows version of Safari.. not loading any pages

I've searched google endlessly and done everything that people have said would work, and still nothing.  Last night I updated Firefox, which was working.. but after the update it won't load any pages!!  So it seems that any newly updated, or downloaded browsers are not working.

Pleeeeeease someone help me!!  I would be sooooo so so appreciative! 

I'm on Windows Vista Home Premium, and have turned off my firewall.  I'm at a point now where I'm considering just formatting my computer.  I wish I could "downgrade" to Windows XP, but unfortunately I have a newer laptop, and they don't have drivers for XP


Thanks
Sarah

[Broni]

Turn off computer. Disconnect router, and modem from power source for 30 seconds.
Power them back on.
Restart computer.

If that doesn't work, bypass router, and connect computer straight to the modem.

If that doesn't work...
Go Start>Run, type in:
cmd
Click OK.

In Command Prompt window, type in following commands, and hit Enter after each one:
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

Restart computer.

If that doesn't work...
Go Start>Run, type in:
cmd
Click OK.

At Command Prompt, type in:
netsh int ip reset reset.log
Hit Enter.
Type in:
netsh winsock reset catalog
Hit Enter.

Restart computer.


If that doesn't work...
Download, install, and run WinSockFix: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Network-Tweak/WinSockFix.shtml
Restart computer, and check again.

[Spoiler]

Take a look at your router. Is it set to get the DNS server from your cable company? Check for typos in the IP if you had to set it up manually.

What you are discribing sounds like your router has the wrong info about the DNS server it is trying to use. Your machines maybe storing the DNS IP.

check your settings on your router
reboot your modem
reboot your router
reboot your machine.
Let us know how this works for you...

[TOOL11]

Thank you both for the quick responses! Unfortunately, after trying all of those solutions, still no good.  I called my brother this afternoon, he used to be pretty good with computers, and asked him if he had any other suggestions.  He told me to uninstall any recent Windows updates and restart so I did that.  Still didn't work.  I downloaded a program called "CCleaner" which supposedly deleted any unecessary files and fixed any issues in my registry.  Restarted.  STILL not working.

So at this point I had finally decided that I would just format.  Then I realized I can't format bc my laptop was preinstalled with Vista, so I don't have an actual Vista disc to reinstall it after formatting. *sigh*

I feel like I've tried pretty much everything.  Both my brother and I are are completely confused as to why this would happen.  Most places say it's probably a DNS error, but my brother said it wouldn't be a DNS error if internet explorer is still working.  Is that true?  I don't know.. he knows more about all this than me.

I'm contemplating sending it in to a local computer shop.. but I really don't have the money to do that.  I'm not sure how much something like that would cost me.. I guess it would depend?

[Broni]

Your laptop, most likely came with recovery partition, and maybe recovery DVD can be created.
What brand, and model is it?

[TOOL11]

It's a Sony Vaio VGN-NR120E

[Broni]

How to access your recovery partition, look below:

[recovering disk space -- attachment deleted by admin]

[TOOL11]

Thank you!! I'm definitely gonna look into that.  It would kinda be nice to start fresh

I'll let you know how it goes

[Broni]

Cool