exact word for word, including punctuation
Search what it says on yahoo or google.

Is there an error code number ?

Mikie - it's been several days since this happened, and I'm on a different PC. I'll try mine again and see what happens. Meanwhile, any suggtestions for a simple fix - like something that got un-ticked, or ticked, that shouldn't have?

Thanx
J

are you able to connect to any sites or is that happening for all sites? if for all it sounds like your not connecting properly or it is dropping connection.

are you trying to connect with different browsers like firefox to see if it is happening with only IE?

You could try going into your connections area and try doing a repair on the connection.
start> control panel> network connections> select your connection and on the left in the selections there choose repair connection.

Is your Flash, Shockwave and Java for your browser up-to-date? What browser are you using? Do you have any applications, your e-mail, or your AV configured to "automatically check" for updates? If so, this would split the limited band at connection. Have you contacted your ISP to see if they are doing any service on your provider?

As a user of an antique DUN I have on occasion had your concern too, and usually its one of the above. I can't guarantee it, but it is a place to start.

DA

Jann-

I am a dial up user, and I have all my updates current. Nothing has affected my connection speed.

My connection speed is 46.6 - pretty consistant. I occasionally get a really low connection rate. I disconnect and redial and it will pick up a better rate.

If you connection speed is much lower than it has been - it may be a problem with your phone line. Have you installed any new jacks or phones in your house?

I have had trouble when the phone company worked on the line that I am on. It wasn't even close to my house. I contacted the actaul service person that worked on it (thank goodness for country living - you know everyone!) and he fixed the issue)

I have also noticed many sites that used to load good, are really slow now. The have many more graphics and videos. That just kills my chances of getting on that site. Even eBay is a terrible load anymore.

You can call the phone company and have them do a "line test" to start with and see if there is any issue there.

iowagirl what will help with that issue of the heavy image loaded sites is getting firefox browser and put on some add ons that block images, ads, flash and all that extraneous stuff then you will load the basic page and it will load much faster.

Back in the dark ages when I had dial up I know I used to have to go in and change my dial in number on occasion, they would get to where they did not work well and trying a new one usually did the trick, also msn would add new dial in numbers and let me know, I always changed to one of the new ones when they did that.
If you have not tried going to a speed test site to check your current connection that might be a good idea. I use the tests on BBR.
Tests and Tools
Speedtest.net
is also very good and also does a ping test, try doing that one and let us know your results.

oK, thanks to all. I will print out suggestions--if I can--and follow up where I can. Hub's pc just came from shop with Windows re-installed, so all should be up-to-date on his--brand new ff browser and it's having same issues. Mine, the browsers are not up to date, but had been working just fine. Not sure I can update them now, with all these problems. Can do the FF browser at work and carry home on flash-drive.

Note, these PC's are not networked. We never go on line at the same time.

It's sure starting to sound like a phone line issue, tho we've had it checked to the house (all ok) and electrician husband repaired a short on inside phone lines--to no avail.

All automatic updates I can find have been re-set to manual.

Have changed dial up numbers several times, ISP says no one else in my area having trouble.

Sorry to be so disorganized in response--I didn't think I'd be able to open this.

Off to look for repair connection.

Cheers,
J

Do not be surprised with a lack of cooperation from your phone company. They claim to have minimal requirements for their line quality and providing quality DUN speed is not one of them.

DA

I agree with DA about the phone company. It is very difficult to get them to realize when the issue is with them. I had to really document some trouble once to get them on board. I finally asked for a higher level tech.

I do not have an option to dial a different number - my ISP only has one number for my area.

I have tried FF with all the add-ons that you describe Raven - but I did not have any noticeable increase in speed. Plus, it is a huge pain to d/l things like FF. I have to go to the library and d/l onto a USB drive.

I know I am one of the few - but I truely prefer IE. I do have all the necessary items to block ads, etc. on IE.

I have great luck here at the GardenWeb - never ever see any ads or underlined text.

IG,

Have you by chance already enrolled in an unlimited long distance plan with your telephone company? If so, you could go ahead and try other numbers without additional charge.

From experience all the company does on a complaint is to "check for line noise". I was lucky one time. They detected a concern and their physical check of the trunk line found a water leak. They switched me to a different trunk line and eliminated my concern. In fact, it increased my original speed by about 40%.

DA

Well, apparently my problem wasn't the result of an update. Had a tech come out and he says all is fine. The problem appears to be with the 30-year-old phone lines, and not only with my ISP. Another dial-up user at work is having same problem, and she uses a different ISP. Wish I would have thought to ask phone co to try switching our trunk line, but hubby wants to go wireless, and I guess we're going to have to. Anyways, thanks for all suggestions, and get ready for an avalanche of problems from me when we get the new system.
Cheers,
Jann