NOTE: Proxy support of PSI is currently unavailable, but is planned for a future release. If your system requires access to the internet through a proxy you will not be able to use the application at this time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Any idea how to get it to run? Both laptop and desktop are connected through the same broadband connection. The laptop is connected wirelessly, but the desktop is not.

The PSI makes use of IE (which is build-in to every windows system) to render it's UI and connect to the servers. This is why IE connection settings affect the behaviour of the PSI, and why the PSI can't run unless IE can contact the internet.

Though the PSI always uses your default browser for normal links, Microsoft Products (that use Microsoft Update) require you to use Internet Explorer, as this is the only browser supported by Microsoft Update.