Programs not recognizing "connection" status

Are you sure you are connected?
What programs can access the Internet?
Which ones can't?

Positive that I am connected.  Internet explorer and Outlook Express both run normally.  Programs like Dell Jukebox, McAfee's, etc. constantly tell me that "I must be connected to the internet", and the signal is excellent.  Any ideas?

Don't really know why IE and OE would know you are connected when non-Microsoft programs would not, except that the settings accessible from the Internet icon in the control panel only apply to Microsoft programs in Win2000 and XP.

I'd try this:

Double click the Internet Options icon in the control panel.
Select the 'Connections' tab.
Select the 'Never dial a connection' radio button.
Click the 'Lan settings' button.
Insure that the 'Automatically detect settings' check box is checked.

Go to the connections window (Start|Connect to|Show all connections)
Click the 'Advanced' pull down menu
Select the 'Advanced settings' selection
Move your default connection to the top of the list.

Thanks for your help to this point.  The recommendations that you have made are all in place.  Those programs are still claiming that they do not recognize that I am connected.  I really don't know what else to say at this point.  It is immensely frustrating.  If you have any other thoughts or questions, just let me know..... I really do appreciate all your time.

Jerry

The programs which are reporting that they are not connected, are they initiating any attempt to establish a connection (such as trying to start a dial up session)?

I'm out of ideas. Other than the possibility that those programs think a dial up connection should be initiated. One other thing to try is again in the network connections up window, the Advanced pull down menu, select Dial Up Preferences. If the 'Enable autodial by location' checkbox is checked, uncheck it.

Another thought. When you check your connection (ipconfig /all), are you showing a default gateway?