I am using freegate but when I stop running the freegate program my browsers cannot connect to the internet without it, not even to access sites that are not blocked in China. I've tried many things including changing the internet proxy. it always gives me the same message; that my proxy server is refusing connections.

I guess you're the user of IE or Chrome(using shared proxy settingwith IE)
In IE connection setting tab, there are two part that may take effect in your proxy setting.When you use LAN(Without dialing up or entring username,password),click on the LAN setting in the bottom of the window and cancel the proxy;When using PPPoE or VPN ,choose your connect icon above and click on the "setting" in the right.
And when you exit ultrasurf , choose"close IE then exit".

IE、IE核心浏览器和Chrome共用IE的代理设置 在Internet选项的连接页。用LAN（不需要拨号和填账号）的在下面"局域网设置"里设置代理；拨号上网、PPPoE和VPN的选中上方的上网连接，点右边的"设置"
退出无界时选"关闭IE并退出"。

引用自: Andres 于 七月 05, 2010, 08:06:34 上午
I am using freegate but when I stop running the freegate program my browsers cannot connect to the internet without it, not even to access sites that are not blocked in China. I've tried many things including changing the internet proxy. it always gives me the same message; that my proxy server is refusing connections.

Just start and quit freegate again.
If freegate quit abnormally,
it surely cant clear proxy setting for you.
Note: To make sure the program quit smoothly
don't click the cross on the window corner,
but click 'Exit' button on the main UI
You can also clear the proxy setting by hand:
just google "internet explorer proxy setting"
Btw: click 'Help' in the main UI for more info