You've probably heard it all before, but I've got that old 'Sorry, we were unable to sign you in to the MSN Messenger at this time. Please try again later. 80072efd.' error message on MSN.

Usually, I use the new Windows Live Messenger 8.1, but the monitor for my PC just bust so I'm using my Grandparents' Windows 2000 laptop . It currently has MSN 7.0 installed because that's the highest version it can run (so Microsoft tells me when I try do download a newer version), but because I get the error message EVERY time whatever, account I try to use (mine, my parents' etc.), it ALWAYS fails!
I've now stooped so low as to start using Web Messenger

I've tried all of the registry tweaks using the 'Run' tool, but nothing works...

Also, I don't currently know if these problems are linked, but I can't access ANY websites using Internet Explorer... (I use Mozilla Firefox - I've even tried Firefox's 'IE Tab' extension, but that fails too. I think i'm using IE 5 or 6 [or lower])

(Just to let you know, I use a wireless D-Link router to get my 8MB broadband)

So, the questions I'm asking are:

1. Does anyone have a solution to EITHER of these problems?
   
2. Does anyone know if these problems are linked?
   
3. Does anyone know what is causing either of these problems? (Just out of interest...)
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   THANKS IN ADVANCE TO ANYONE WHO CAN PROVIDE ANY OF THESE ANSWERS!
   (By the way, if you KNOW that this can't be fixed, plz let me know!)