windows update and other browser problems

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

I use an earthlink "dailup" account, but over a T1 line. Recently set up
a new XP/sp2 box and was running fine, Start/Windows Update had worked
fine several times, just like previous OSs (win2k & w98se). I had also
just installed WebWasher Classic. Now Windows Update won't work; when
invoked it just sits there and tells me it's done with a blank web page,
here's the link:
http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft. [...] fault.aspx

There's also a message near the top saying "...attempting to retrieve
buttons from Yahoo..."

Other odd things:
1. My regular start page (start.earthlink.net) remained in my Netscape
7.2 browser, but in IE it got changed to the MSN website. (maybe unrelated?)

2. My IE browser, after being reset to start.earthlink.net, now only
shows a lot of garbage characters and not much else (maybe WebWasher
trying to filter out "ads"?)

3. When I deny WebWasher a pass thru Zone Alarm, I get an Internal
Server Error 500.

My main concern is Windows Update, how can I get it working again?

Thank you.