Let's start simple. Try clearing your cache and cookies.

1. Open the Tools menu, then select Clear Recent History... .
2. In the Time Range to clear: drop-down, select Everything.
3. Click the arrow next to Details to display the list of items that can be cleared.
4. Select both Cookies and Cache.
5. Click Clear Now .

Thanks Chris for your prompt advice, unfortunately it is still doing the same thing.

If you close Firefox, then start Firefox in Safe Mode, does the problem still occur? For instructions on starting in Safe Mode, see Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

Chris sorry for the delayed response, but I did go in safe mode and still the same result. Again it is not every page that I get the "Unable to connect" page. If I got to microsoft and try to download the media player I get the unable to connect. By the way it does the same on Internet Explorer also.

If IE can't load it, then try the solutions in Firefox and other browsers can't load websites

Chris thanks again for your advice. My problem is solved, I had to have some viruses removed from my computer which blocked me going to certain websites like "Microsoft".

I have completed all of the above suggestions. Ran a virus check and Adware check. System is clean. Running Win. XP Pro. Firefox was not present in the AVG listing of Application information. I have tried safe mode for Firefox and that don't work. IE does the same thing, can not connect to the actual download. Cannot connect to any of Microsoft download pages. Thank you.