After Updating to iTunes 7, cannot download from Music Store

Question

Since updating to iTunes 7 I have had trouble downloading from the iTunes Store. At first all was well, I went into the store, bought some tracks, started downloading them and then my router died, cut my connection and halted my download. After sorting out the router and re-connecting to the internet iTunes has started reporting that the network has timed out and cannot connect to the music store.
I can still browse the music store but if I try to log in or download anything I get the error that the network timed out. I have tried multiple things to resolve this including restarting the laptop and router, uninstalling iTunes altogether and reinstalling it, running the Diagnostics in iTunes but to no avail.
In the diagnostics window the first two tests pass ok but the third test seems to fail when a secure connection needs to be made, which would explain why I can browse the store but not download anything or log in because this would require secure connections.
Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition Service Pack 2
iTunes 7.0.0.70
Current user is an administrator.
Network Adapter Information
Adapter Name:
Description:
IP Address: 158.234.1.65
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 158.234.1.254
DHCP Enabled: Yes
DHCP Server: 158.234.1.254
Lease Obtained: Thu Sep 14 13:33:28 2006
Lease Expires: Thu Sep 14 16:33:28 2006
DNS Servers: 153.234.26.37
158.234.38.242
Network Connection Information
Active Connection: LAN Connection
Connected: Yes
Online: Yes
Using Modem: No
Using LAN: Yes
Using Proxy: No
SSL 3.0 Support: Enabled
TLS 1.0 Support: Disabled
Firewall Information
Windows Firewall is off.
Connection attempt to Apple web site was successful.
Connection attempt to iTunes Store was successful.
Secure connection attempt to iTunes Store was unsuccessful.
Any help on this would be much appreciated.
ReallyGrumpyTheDwarff
ASUS A6J Notebook, Intel Core Duo T2400, 1Gb RAM, 80Gb HDD, Windows XP Media Centre Edition SP2   Windows XP  

Answer 1

Ok all is now well.
Basically I checked with BT and there were no problems on the network, the problem had to be somewhere between my router and iTunes. Next I checked if I could download anything from another computer using my internet connection and the same thing happened so that isolated the problem to router. I then checked the firmware on the router and this was up to date so I then wondered if there might be some dodgy registers within the router that maybe corrupted so I performed a factory reset of my BT Home Hub, but alas that didnt fix anything (unless your connection is running <200Kb/s then it fixes everything, but thats another story, if in doubt reset it!) Anyway, I was putting all my settings back in and realised the Home Hubs Firewall had been activated and as soon as this was disabled, hey presto! iTunes magic returns!
I have since realised that the reason the router may have randomly cut out in the first place was to upgrade the firmware of the Home Hub, hence the sudden blockage of iTunes by the reactivated firewall.
Since correcting this I have had no trouble using iTunes 7, no issues with music or connecting my 4Gb iPod Nano. To all those who are struggling with this I suggest you update your iPods firmware to the latest version to ensure it is compatible with iTunes 7.
Respond here if anyone else needs help.
NotSoGrumpyTheDwarff