Can't find server or dns error in IE but AOL can - need help

[Nanceel0]

Hi,
I read this thread (http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...hreadid=130049)
and noticed the reference to DNS and DHCP and I'm hoping someone might be able to help me. (This is driving me crazy)
I'm running Windows 98se, IE6, HP Pavilion 8665C, EZTrust AV, Spyware Blaster, BOClean, SpyBot.
Since about September there are a few select sites I cannot access with standalone IE (I get the above message). but I can access them in AOL browser if I try it immediately afterwards.
I have no "hosts" file, nor ICS sharing. No firewall. So far I have emptied temp.int.files, cookies, history and used spider to empty my index.dat files. In October I removed and reinstalled both IE6 and AOL 5. A few days ago I removed the communications from windows set-up, deleted the winsock2 key in the registry, rebooted and re-checked communication in windows set-up (I have dial up networking and hyperterminal checked in there). I also removed and reinstalled the AOL Adapter. I was given the settings for AOL Adapter. Here they are: (in Network) AOL Adapter>properties>Bindings tab= TCP/IP AOL Adapter. TCP/IP>AOL Adapter>properties>IP Address tab= obtain an IP address automatically". DNS tab>disable DNS. WINS Configuration tab= Disable WINS configuration>>>>>WHEN I CHECKED THIS I COULDN'T ACCESS ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET (I got action canceled). So I put it back to "DHCP for WINS Resolution" and I could access the internet. Bindings tab>clear any checkmarks (none).
I have tried pinging the problem sites and get 4 timed outs and 4 packets sent, 0 received, 4 lost. pinging the IP is the same. When I do a tracert I get 30 * * * *. And yet I can access these sites with AOL's IE!
I got suspicious about my "timed out error" messages with my auto-downloads with EZTrust. Sometimes I can auto-download, but I'm getting a lot of timed outs lately...so I did a ping and tracert and got the 4 times outs and * * * * for the tracert.
Thinking it might have to do with my security settings in IE, I put one site in my Trusted Sites. I still get The page cannot be displayed, cannot find server or dns error but it shows the page to be in my Trusted sites.
Does anyone have any idea of what the problem is? I think AOL has something to do with this. Can you spot anything in those AOL Adapter settings?
I'd appreciate any help.
Sincerely, Nancee

Edit: I forgot to mention this: If I go to www.anonymizer.com with the standalone IE, I can then access a problem page (but if I try to click a link or two, anonymizer says I have to purchase it!)