Can't use www addresses with Gutsy

Using Feisty on a clean machine (mobo MSI K9AG Neo2-Digital;cpu AMD BE-2350;4gig of memory) on a local network with complete success. Gutsy (Ubuntu v7.10) cannot convert www addresses (ie, Google.com) to URL's. If I enter the URL directly the website is then reached. The manual URL lookup feature works, but if I do a google search (after connecting via URL) clicking on a search result produces nothing but the 'working' icon. I have tried three different Gutsy installs: online upgrade of Feisty, to the clean machine (drive reformatted before installation) with Gutsy LiveCD & Gutsy alternate CD. Same internet blockage on all three. Gutsy sees my other three computers (one running Feisty, two running windows XP) on my wired LAN without difficulty.
Thanks for any help. I've probably missed a setting somewhere.

WCB