Sounds like your issue is with your configured DNS servers in your network setting or you have some overactive popup prevention software installed.
The Domain Name Service (DNS) translates domain names to IP numbers. If these are incorrect or the servers that you have entered are down then you will get the behavior you described. When you click on a link your computer cannot translate the domain to an IP. It could be that you can get to because you system has the translation to cached.
A virus can mess with these settings.
You may not need to get a new system. Check with your ISP on what is the correct DNS to use and check on the ones that are configured. If you are using DHCP, where these are set automatically, you can solve this by resetting the connection. This could save you some $$$.
To test this - if you can go to this
http://209.68.18.34/lava_layers.jpg
but not this
http://www.sammcgees.com/lava_layers.jpg
That would be a direct clue that the only problem is that your DNS is misconfigured.
BTW best to cut and paste the url's into your location window to eliminate some problem with popup software preventing the creation of a new page. If the above works but you cannot click on link then some protection software is tweaked a little to paranoid.
Now the admin will banish me to the wilderness for responding. Oh well, I will get more work done that way...
OFF TOPIC - Please Do Not Respond to this message or continue in this vein.
No banishment, but we don't want others to continue with helpful tips in this thread. There is a thread open concerning Faith and her computer.AdminPD
Edited by troxelso, : No reason given.
Edited by AdminPD, : Warning