Problem accessing mircosoft sites!

I re-installed windows yesterday, and when i tried to d/l the security updates I could not access the site. My IE browser would say it was connecting, but would freeze and never get there. I have no problems accessing all other site, but anything microsoft in a no no, including messenger.

This morning I tried turning off the firewall, then I opened IE and straight away I got to the msn home page (home page on my pc). Messenger is running ok, but i still cannot access the security update site!

I run AVG virus scanner, spybot ad-aware and A2 sq are used all the time. I have sent an e-mail to microsoft, but I wondered if anyone here had any idea's?

Edit..I looked in windows/system32/drivers/etc hosts, but was blank (fresh install of windows)

Do you receive any error message? Or just an endless search?

Are you using the link via start > All Programs > Windows Update?

If you are getting an error message see this:

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;883821

You can get SP2 here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en