Has she tried a simple 'Ping' test to determine if the problem is just with IE or at a deeper level such as DNS? Open a DOS command window and type commands such as the following at the C:\ command prompt:
Ping Novell.com
Ping Google.com
These two should both reply with something looking similar to this, though the times will vary:
Code:
Pinging google.com [72.14.207.99] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=240
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=240
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=241
Reply from 72.14.207.99: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=240
Ping statistics for 72.14.207.99:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 34ms, Maximum = 35ms, Average = 34ms
If it hangs and eventually times out with no numeric address given and 'Unknown host', it's unable to get a DNS response. If it gets the address, but the pings fail with 'Request timed out', it can't reach the remote network.
If the above works, then the problem is at a higher level with IE itself and it's access to the networking below. Let us know results.
Does she already have Spybot S&D or HijackThis installed or a way to install it and move the Scan Results to another PC (floppy, CD, flash drive) to post?
Has she contacted her ISP as mentioned in the message she got to ask them for help? They know their networking configuration far better then we would, and we'd probably end up asking a dozen questions just to get to that point.