Program unable to contact/connect to servers in the internet

Hello All,

I have been having this problem with my computer for some time. My problem is that programs in my computer are not able to connect to the internet in order to do updates. However, my web browsers perfectly connect to the internet.

Examples of errors
(1) My Norton 360 could not do Liveupdates. The error I get if a try to do livedupdate with my Norton is "LiveUpdate failed. Could not connect to the LiveUpdate Server".

(2)Google Earth: I tried to install Google Earth in my PC but I could not complete the process because I always got the error: "Google Updater was unable to contact the server"

(3) Microsoft Office Help: Whenever I click the help icon on any Microsoft Office help icon, I would get the error message: "not connected".

(4) I have some other programs I tried to install in my PC but I always have an error message about not being able to contact their server etc.

Troubleshooting so far
I have received previous advice that it might be my Firewall (both Windows, Norton and Linksys Wireless router) that may be the cause of the problem. I decided to check this theory by temporarily disabling my Windows and Norton Firewalls and connecting straight to my modem, but the problem still persited.

Please I desperately need help on this. I use an HP Pavilion dv4000 laptop. My Internet connection is via cable modem (Time Warner cable). My OS is Windows XP (SP2)

Thanks.