=== modified file 'modules/system/system.module'
--- modules/system/system.module	2008-11-28 09:25:59 +0000
+++ modules/system/system.module	2008-12-24 02:49:29 +0000
@@ -2174,16 +2174,9 @@ function system_time_zones($blank = NULL
  *  and contains the same output as if called via the menu system.
  */
 function system_check_http_request() {
-  // Check whether we can do any request at all. First get the results for
-  // a very simple page which has access TRUE set via the menu system. Then,
-  // try to drupal_http_request() the same page and compare.
-  ob_start();
-  $path = 'admin/reports/request-test';
-  menu_execute_active_handler($path);
-  $nothing = ob_get_contents();
-  ob_end_clean();
-  $result = drupal_http_request(url($path, array('absolute' => TRUE)));
-  $works = isset($result->data) && $result->data == $nothing;
+  $result = drupal_http_request('http://www.example.com');
+  // If the resulting page contains RFC 2606 then we got the page we wanted.
+  $works = isset($result->data) && preg_match('/RFC\s+2606/', $result->data);
   variable_set('drupal_http_request_fails', !$works);
   return $works;
 }