AOL&IE on XP w/Panda, only one site loads, rest 404.

I used to be able to hack my way through problems, but I'm too far behind for this one.
A friend has broadband AOL on Comcast cable. (They pay for BOTH, which leads to more questions, but not now.)
HISTORY:
Needed larger HD. Installed. Panda added. MS firewall disabled. System works.(as I'm told)
THEN:
Something fails. AOL advises upgrade from 6.0 to 9.0. Upgraded.
NOW:
Websites fail. 404 page not found on both AOL and IE. EXCEPT one bank site. Lasalle bank. I tried viewing privacy links just to insure it's not a cached remnant.
BOTH on IE and AOL's internet viewer, same failures, same success only with Lasalle.
Can't get help from AOL since it jumps to internet which fails 404.
YET:
AOL loads today's news. Just no other website, e.g. yahoo.com google.com, with or without full URL.
Panda successfully reaches its own site for an update, downloads and completes its install.
NOTE:
NO listed sites in CPanel:Internet options under trusted sites, or rest.
Could not find AOL's firewall. I imagine it might have one. I hate AOhelL.(They're readier to drop it.)

I'd appreciate any help.

I would reformat my new hard drive.
THEN
Take the aol CD and smile while I destroy it.
Take the system works and send it to someone I hate.
reinstall XP (That hurts to say but you have the CD)
Get back on the internet with Comcast
Install Firefox Browser with Ad Blocker and only use IE to get security updates and you will surly need them!

Then I would install FREE AVG anti-virus
Then I would install a few spyware cleaning programs, Spybot S&D..Ad-Aware SE and Spywareblaster.
I would also install Ccleaner.
At this point I would then be in command of my computer in at least as much as XP allows me.
This is just my opinion.....Good Luck

Thanks for the dream.
Perhaps some DUer has a client of family member stuck on AOL who might know.