Windows Update error 0x80072EFD / Connectivity Error

[vbcubey]

When I try to use Windows Update or update the definitions for Windows Defender, I get error code 0x80072EFD. I also can't access the Windows Update website.

I can access the internet, check webmail, watch videos on Youtube, but I can't access support.microsoft.com, support.gateway.com, or my bank account (which is a secure site). IE says "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage."

I tried to ping windowsupdate.com and support.gateway.com, and both failed.

I also tried to use the 3rd method on this page to get at least Windows update working, but it didn't work, either.

Steam also failed when I tried to install it. I don't know if it's related, but it might be relevant.

My computer is a Gateway FX6800-11. I'm running Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit SP1. IE is 8.0.6001.18702. I'm using Windows Firewall. I do not currently have an antivirus program. The computer originally had Norton 360 Security on it, but I uninstalled it.

This is what I get when I run ipconfig /all at the command prompt:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : TikiHead
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : earthlink.net

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : earthlink.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) 82567LF-2 Gigabit Network Connec
tion
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-22-68-49-47-61
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::99bf:fd4e:a8:318a%10(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 208.118.10.255(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.252.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:30:25 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, March 31, 2009 11:54:52 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 208.118.8.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.111.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 207.69.188.186
207.69.188.187
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 6:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : earthlink.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 7:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : earthlink.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft 6to4 Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2002:d076:aff::d076:aff(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 2002:c058:6301::c058:6301
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 207.69.188.186
207.69.188.187
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 11:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 02-00-54-55-4E-01
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0:4137:9e50:10af:3e9b:2f89:f500(Pref
erred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::10af:3e9b:2f89:f500%13(Preferred)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Please let me know if there's anything else I can tell you that would help. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

[vbcubey]

The error message I get when Steam fails is "Error: Steam.exe (main exception): Unable to load library steam.dll." I looked it up at the Steam support forums, and they seem to think that this error is due to difficulties getting through a firewall; however, I experienced this error with all firewalls turned off (including Windows Firewall). I realize that you guys aren't Steam support, but I figure every piece of information helps.

[vbcubey]

Well, this is embarrassing, but the computer connects okay as long as I use a router. I'd still like it to be able to connect reliably without one, but beggars can't be choosers.

Oh, well.