[Internet Explorer 6.0] Requires http:// or will not browse

[DrTech]

I have a very weird issue with IE 6.0.

System Specs

Operating System: Windows XP SP2

Browser Version: Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.061219-0316

This started happening reportedly after a new NIC was installed. Internet Explorer will not browse to web pages unless the HTTP:// is manually typed in front of the web address. I've installed Firefox on the computer and it works fine. IE6.0 has all the latest updates from MS. The customer does not want to move up to IE7 and I don't want him to either. We were going to try to reinstall IE6 but MS won't allow that and says "there is a newer version of internet explorer installed". The only thing I can think of left to try is to install IE7 and uninstall IE7 and hope the installation fixes the issue.

Has anyone run into this issue before? And what was the fix that you found?

Thanks,

Mike

p.s. I suspect it might be the NIC, but why would that only affect IE and not FF if it was the NIC?

[DrTech]

Update

We tried updating to IE7 and it still behaved the same way.