The computer is Windows XP Professional SP3 with IE8.

On the Tools > Options > Connections the "Settings" is GRAYED OUT (I am an admin on the machine)

Any browsing of https:// addresses results in IE displaying the following:

"this program cannot display the web page"

After installing an alternate browser and trying the same https:// address I get a similar error message.

I have tried using Compatibility View Settings to for all web pages and this has no effect on the problem.

HTTP addresses work fine, I can PING sites such as google.com without issue.

Question: What could be preventing me from getting at the settings to check to see if I'm using a proxy? What else could be preventing HTTPS access?