Can you help with trouble "partially" accessing the internet?

I just bought a new computer. Here are the symptoms...

I am running Windows XP.

I CAN access the internet going through my Internet Explorer 7.

I have been loading programs on my new computer and none of them have been able to reach the internet to register on-line.

I have an on-line game it is not able to access the internet. (Gamespy)

I was able to access everything on my old computer.

Since I am able to access the internet through Explorer this has got to be some simple selection I have not made, right?

Can you help?

As you can access internet through your IE, ur LAN connection seems OK. The only problem may be with your firewall which is preventing other programs and games to update. Change firewall settings.

You use a firewall, right? Perhaps your firewall is restricting access from programs other than IE.