Can't access internet, ADVANCED....

Okay folks, here it is;
Windows ME machine, Linksys LNE100TX nic card. Card has been tested on other
machines and works perfectly; have also tried a RealTek card with same
results as below. Here's what I've done so far.

There are no conflicts on the nic card. It's been uninstalled and
reinstalled several times and the link lights flash madly when the cable is
connected. I've verified the TCP/IP settings with the ISP, they're correct
(no proxy is used, IP address is automatic). I've tried completely
uninstalling the TCP/IP and reinstalling it again, no luck. I've tried to
release and renew the IP, many times.
It's not the cable or the modem, this is happening with the computer at
different locations and with different modems but the problem remains the
same.
The results?

I can ping 127.0.0.1.
I can ping my own IP address as indicated by the ipconfig.
I can NOT ping anything else. Packets are going out but not receiving.
IE says it's detecting the proxy settings and then goes to the infamous
"page can't be displayed" -- it's just not going OUT.

Unfortunately for me this is NOT unique; I've seen four different computers
cross my desk this month alone with this same issue, one of them was a Win2K
machine, one was WinXP and two were WinME.

I don't claim to be network-savvy but this is kicking my butt; anyone have
any brilliant ideas?