file_get_contents() does support opening of remote files from the local machine - I use it here on my local laptop all the time - just need to make sure that the fopen wrappers are enabled

Mike: Are you able to try using file_get_contents() to open another website/url from the new machine? It looks to me like a firewall or somthing may be blocking it, or perhaps Amazon was just down or on a go slow when you tested it?

Alan