I have recently solved a problem with access to Windows Update and selected secure sites.

 

On a new Inspiron 8600 (W XP Home, IE6, Bellsouth DSL) I had mostly good web access.  However, Windows Update returned error 0x80072EE2, completed forms could not be sent to secure sites, and some links within a successfully logged site would return "page could not be displayed".

 

Technical assistance, Dell document HO1075765, MS Article 836941 all directed me to incredible levels of detailed configuration changes and tweaking.

 

Problem turned out to be the MTU setting on the D-Link 624 Wireless Router.  A simple router configuration change from 1500 to 1492 solved the problem.  Apparently size does matter for 'packets', and smaller is sometimes better.

 

After I took a step back from the detailed geek advice and started my own troubleshooting with some basic experiments like trying the wireless connection at a public hot spot and a hard connection directly to the DSL modem (no router), a quick email to D-Link provided the answer.  D-Link may be the last helpful customer service on the planet.

 

The real message here is to start simple, stay logical, and try to isolate the problem before taking Dell or Microsoft beanie-head advice.  I would have saved a lot of time, had I done that.