After Vista auto-update, applications can't connect to internet

[schematics]

Hello,

I use Windows vista home premium 64 bit.

I just recently had one of those automatic upgrades take place before I shut down my computer. When I started it back up again, all of a sudden none of my applications could connect to the internet, Firefox 3.0, IE, Steam, AIM...etc...etc even though the network center application says that I am connected to the internet.

Something that might help diagnose the problem: every time I close Firefox or IE, I get a "Firefox has stopped working" dialog box and if I click "check online for a solution" I get this

The exception unknown software exception (0xc0000005) occurred in the application at location 0x007e00c4

any help is greatly appreciated,

Thank you

[Spools]

Did you look at the list of items in the update list? Were any of them drivers?

[shadowpr]

Try reinstalling your lan drivers.

If that doesn't work, try a system restore to a date before the updates.