i havent read all of the other replies but IF the recepticles are on the same breaker they are more than likely wired in series, meaning if a wire was grounded nothing would work and would keep tripping the breaker(same would be true if they are wired in parallel but the following would not apply). a wire may however be disconnected for the circuit or have a bad connection at the switch. are the recepticles GFI plugs? probably not if they arent in the kitchen or bathroom but if they are make sure you try to reset them.

 

resi electricians love to go thru an outside receptacle and come back inside. Power the outside porch light then hit a GFCI then back in. Yep, check an outside gfci.

 

Well. I looked at it a bit last night. The porch light and the Fan light are on a double switch at the same box by the door. The switch on the LEFT is the porch light and the one on the right is the Fan. All the rest of the outlets are left of the switches.
The left switch (porch) was the one that had lit up initially and burned out. I was checking the wiring on it and one wire that plugs into the back of the switch appears to not be connecting. It runs across to the other switch so I'm thinking it could be the culprit possibly?
The switches have holes in them that you push the wires into and its supposed to GRAB the wire, and then you push in a hold next to it to release, but it isn't grabbing.
Could that be the problem? It was dark so I didn't get to do too much to it but I couldn't connect it in there, its just sitting in the hole really.
I'm going to pick up a ticker tonight when I get off work and possibly another new switch just in case.

 

one single wire coming out of the stab lock would not be feeding everything. It could be the feed for the light hence the light not working, but a single pole switch isn't powering all your receptacles. Take a pic of the box and post it up and yes, replace that switch.