Some websites (mostly downloads) will not load

I think you need to use the proxy server to help loading, some websites only can be opened under the state of proxy server entry.

 

The HP site won't load for me (white screens) if I am running "NoScript" in FF, and don't have permission issued for its scripts.

Toshiba loads for the most part, without altering any settings.

So, do you have any firewall installed? And have you updated Java recently?

You could also check your settings for browser cookies, as certain sites won't load if permission to set cookies is not granted.

I don't think that this is the case with the sites mentioned. They will open for me across country lines, (USA to Canada) without changing any browser settings.

 

You say browsing works fine in Safe Mode with networking AND you've already tried a full Win 7 reinstall???

I think your next best step is How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

 

Oh, I didn’t consider these factors such as firewall installation, settings for browser cookies. Maybe you are right.

 

Running from a Safe Mode(SM) boot would necessarily put you into an Admin Login,
while a normal boot would give you UAC access. That could mean two different %userprofiles% and different browser settings.

SM access still has the common Hosts file, so that can be eliminated as an issue.

I see you're accessing Canadian sites (xxx.CA) so you might verify that there are no restridtions (ie blacklists) for those domains.

If you can access a site xyz.ca and see the homepage but can not download from it (per your subject line), that is quite different than not accessing the site(s) at all.