Windows 7: Issue opening websites, Facebook, MSN, Microsoft - IE9,FF10,Chrome

Also as for the ping, sometimes the ping returns a valid response after resolving the name to ip and doesnt timeout, but the website doesnt load even though its pinging without a timeout.

Since it is repeatable, then it seems to be specific to the Windows 7 box and not the router or the connection failing at random times... or maybe I've jumped to the wrong conclusion.

You mentioned that when a web page fails to load - it shows the title of the webpage shows in the browser, just not the page itself. What does "view source" in IE show for these pages that will not load? Or what does "view page source" in Firefox & Chrome show? Is the HTML there and you just cannot see it?

Does this problem also happen when you start IE without and add-ons?
Start > Accessories > System Tools > Internet Explorer (No Add-ons)

It seems unlikely that it is a core OS issue, but see if SFC /SCANNOW finds any problems. You might want to just start uninstalling software or it might be simpler to do a clean install of Windows 7 like this or this.

Page source shows the entire HTML code in all browsers. Strange thing noticed. On this website itself, the page loads but without images, says waiting for cssimg.sevenforumscdn.com.
Also on another forum website, techsupportforum.com, it stays stuck on waiting for cdn.techsupportforum.com
For vmware.com it says connected but page source is empty and neither the title displays anything. Ping also times out. But if i enter the IP address in the address bar and then try, the title comes up with the icon but the page info is blank so is the page.
For answers.microsoft.com, neither the IP works nor does it change the title. Damn Windows 7. Was much better of with XP but stupid XP doesnt detect more than 2GB of RAM.

So - IE without any add-ons fails too?

For me, pinging vmware.com resolves to 165.193.233.120 but times out...
...that server must be setup to not respond to pings.

But adding www to vmware.com resolves to e751.b.akamaiedge.net [184.30.3.51]...
...and that server does respond fine to pings.

Using IE9 on Windows 7 surfing to 165.193.233.120 returns the vmware site prefixed with www; 184.30.3.51 returns nothing.

Have you tried the SFC scan?

Tried SFC and it returned. One more development I noticed is that I removed my DLink DIR 300 from the scene. Directly connected the UT300R2U and configured PPPOE - Always On connection with VCT as 35 and rebooted the modem and checked and all sites opened super fast. I removed the username and password field from it and keeping it blank as it is again connected DIR 300 to it with the regular setup but the issue came back. Seems something is wrong with DIR 300 talking with the modem and returning back the data.
Another test, I reset the UT modem, kept all defaults with just removing the bridged mode from connection type and keeping it as pppoe. Reset the DIR 300 and configured everything from scratch. Same issue. So I believe issue lies with the DLink communication with the modem and vice-versa.

It sounds like you have found the problem. I did not dwell on the router because I thought that your XP laptop was using the same router without any problems. You might check to see if there are any firmware updates available for the router.

Thanks for the reply. I checked and there is no software or firmware update available for the DIR 300. Whatever is loaded currently is the recent one. Any idea what configuration should be done on the modem and the router. I believe with the manual or automated settings done directly on the wifi router, there is some communication issue which is causing the website problems.

Try going to Control Panel and select Network and Sharing Center. Select Manage Wireless Networks at the left. Select the wireless network and select Remove. Do the same for every network. Did you change your ISP by any chance to comodo, try going into your network settings and checking and change to Google DNS or a DNS of your prefered choice.

There is no wireless connection to my desktop. My desktop is a wired connection to the DIR300. Wireless connections are to my laptop or Android Phone where it works fine.

You are welcome - but I cannot think of any settings that would remedy the situation as I understand it.

If I'm understanding/remembering correctly...
...this is a summary of where we are:
A desktop cannot open some websites via your router.
The problem is repeatable from day to day. (same sites fail)
WiFi devices can open all websites via this same router.
(So the router is not set to block the sites that the desktop cannot visit.)

The desktop can open all websites when bypassing your router.

Does your router have settings that impact only hard wired devices?
Can you post a link to the manual for your router?
Or better yet - can you find an online emulator for your router :-)
http://support.dlink.com/Emulators/d...112/index.html