AOL internet search

I am running Windows XP and connecting to AOL through my high speed provider. Everything worked fine and even worked good with Ver. 8. Then all of a sudden I could connect to AOL but nothing would connect to the web. All AOL functions will work but nothing will connect to the web through AOL. IE works fine separate from AOL. Have tried uninstall to include going into PROGMAN and removing all and reinstalling ver. 7 but nothing works. It is like a switch has been changed but I can not findit. I also have a Win 98 machine in my 2 box network that does the same and I formatted it to no avail. Any suggestions other than not using AOL.