windows update failure; odd IE behavior; McAfee Security Suite

Windows XP Home Edition SP2, Internet Explorer
6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519 with McAfee Security Suite 10
installed.

Can no longer get Windows updates as keep getting 'page not available' but
by refreshing page site will come up.Can keep refreshing until I get to
'Express or Custom?' update screen but can get no further because refresh
keeps taking back to the 'Express or Custom?' page

It's getting so most Web sites only come up this way. After a page not
found, click refresh brings up a page. Commonly get 'server reset' messages
and downloads are interrupted.

Have McAfee Security Suite installed but having issues with updates as all
web pages have the 'not found' / refresh issue. Have tried the Microsoft
recommendations where possible but to no avail.