Hi, I think this problem is sufficiently different from others I've seen posted. I don't usually USE Internet Explorer (I use Firefox), but I think it's inability to load pages is interfering with downloading some free computer security downloads (Malwarebyte). At least reading up on those problems prompted me to check out my IE. I was in South Africa last month and as you can see, my "cache administrator" (I don't know what that is) is listed as South African. I tried to reset IE and still get the error. I can't load any pages. I'll post the error message and then my system info. Thanks very much.

ERROR
The requested URL could not be retrieved

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While trying to retrieve the URL: http://www.google.com/

Error:

The following error was encountered:

Access Denied.
Access control configuration prevents your request from being allowed at this time. Please contact your service provider if you feel this is incorrect.

Your cache administrator is [emailprotected]



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Generated Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:10:51 GMT by proxy0.sun.ac.za (squid/2.5.STABLE9)

Here's my system information:

OS NameMicrosoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS ManufacturerMicrosoft Corporation
System NameELLEN
System ManufacturerDell Computer Corporation
System ModelInspiron 600m
System TypeX86-based PC
Processorx86 Family 6 Model 13 Stepping 8 GenuineIntel ~1495 Mhz
BIOS Version/DateDell Computer Corporation A16, 1/18/2005
SMBIOS Version2.3
Windows DirectoryC:\WINDOWS
System DirectoryC:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device\Device\HarddiskVolume2
LocaleUnited States
Hardware Abstraction LayerVersion = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User NameELLEN\Ellen
Time ZoneEastern Standard Time
Total Physical Memory512.00 MB
Available Physical Memory91.52 MB
Total Virtual Memory2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory1.91 GB
Page File Space1.22 GB
Page FileC:\pagefile.sysForgot to say that I have Internet Explorer 7. Thanks.More information--I think what I need to know is how to change the cache administrator or to change settings that were made by a cache administrator. I checked "sun.ac.za" and it is the web address for the university where I was working, so this seems pretty harmless. I went online through their wireless network (used Firefox without problem). But now that I'm back in the U.S., some setting have been changed that prevent me from using Internet Explorer. I didn't try to use it when I was there. Thanks again!My guess is that you may have been infected...what protection apps do you have on that machine ? ?
DLoad all updates for them and run your scans.
Report back (hopefully with a clean bill of Health)Thanks for the reply. I regularly run Adaware and Spybot S&D and have rerun those. With the continued problems and research online, I DECIDED to DOWNLOADED AVG Anti-virus and Malwarebytes today and ran them. (My computer has been pretty slow anyway, so I really wanted to be sure I was digging out any spyware.) I'm still having the Explorer problem.

I went AHEAD and emailed the system administrator once I realized it CORRESPONDED to the university I visited. It seems like some security settings were changed on my computer when I was there visiting. I can't access the Apple iTunes store, which online reading tells me may be related to security settings too.AdAware and Spybot are old school - and neither is an anti virus utility. The current best of breed anti spyware utilities are MalwareBytes and Super AntiSpyware - but again, they are not anti virus utilities. You do have a resident AV, correct? And go ahead and run a scan with MalwareBytes.Thanks for the tip about Super AntiSpyware. Um, no, I do not have resident AV. Whenever I've installed something, my computer comes to a screeching halt. Any recommendations?

In the meantime, I have figured out my original problem and thought I should report back. The iTunes store and Internet Explorer problems were related since iTunes uses IE proxy settings to access the store. In Internet Options, connections, LAN settings, I had "use automatic configuration script" checked off and that had the South African address. So, I unchecked that and now IE and the iTunes store both work.

Back to work on protecting and speeding up my computer...

Thanks for the help!I don't think anyone should run a system without a GOOD an utility resident. There are many good ones - my suggestion is you pick one, install it, and make sure it's always active.