I hope someone can offer some advice or help because I'm stuck. 

First of all, I have completely uninstalled all anti-virus and firewall software, and I've completely reset my router to the factory defaults.

I had Impulse installed, and I could log in and access everything, but I couldn't download any updates to my OD programs...WB6 specifically.  Within Impulse, I was able to change the Preferences to the new download mechanism and change the server, but I had the same problem when I tried to update or install anything.

I uninstalled Impulse and tried to download from the http://www.impulsedriven.com/impulse_setup_full.exe link, but it resolves into the address https://stardock.cachefly.net/impulse/255/impulse_setup_full.exe and I get a connection interrupted error.  I tried using my old install of Impulse, but when it tries to update itself during the initial install, it errors out as well, so I can't even install Impulse.

If I go to SDC, which will install and update itself correctly, I can download and install almost everything except WB6, which has the same problems connecting in order to initialize the installation.  OD is hardly worth it if I can't use WB6.

I have actually completely  reformatted and reinstalled Vista because of this.  I've deleted all the directories and program files associated with Stardock (except for the actual skins files and so on), so everything is starting from a pristine default setting.

I can ping stardock.cachefly.net, and I can ping www.impulsedriven.com without any problems.

This is becoming more than a little frustrating when I've spent this much time and energy troubleshooting a program that should be fairly simple to install and run...at least it always has been for me...even as far back as Neil Banfield's original Window Blinds in 1997.  I am entering the margin of diminishing returns in regards to OD and Stardock, and I am seriously beginning to question its value compared to my time and effort.

With that said...can anyone offer me any advice, help, or thoughts on a solution.

I'd really appreciate it.