As promised, I'm back with an update. It is now working! but I'm not sure what really fixed it, or if it maybe just fixed itself. I know what I did and what order, thus what didn't fix it. I did the router/modem unplug/wait thing and rebooted...no help. CCleaner-no help disc clean-up via accessories-no help reboot-no help updated and did full scans using Super-antispyware, and Spybot Search and Destroy, and Malwarebites Anti-Malware Nothing of any significance was found via the scans and after checking for updates and running that many scans I couldn't say for sure if I rebooted between each one or not. I just know it took a long time. I ran the Malwarebytes last and only cookies were found and I discovered the Hotmail started working during the scan. I'm now a happy camper but have a new question for a new thread. Thanks again Zep. At least my computer is all updated and clean. Lastly last night I even went and did updates on Windows as I don't like having them set to automatic. Sue

If you need a free ISP Netzero Use IE to view page or it doesn't work. I used Netzero to get my dial-up modem working in Vista, that's another story with a dual boot XP/Vista. Ended up with 2 modems in the same computer, since Vista said my XP modem was in use. Another free ISP is Juno. Just got a message today from them telling me about the new Vista ready version. Both Netzero & Juno have a Connection Wizard for download that I used to pinpoint my connection problems, it gave me a little insight. So are you impressed with the Vista Connection Wizard? I ran that thing so many times.

For anyone who may be interested in an update to my problem... I finally managed to get a Bhutan Telecom engineer to stand by my computer and actually see it disconnect from the internet. He hooked up his own very high-tech looking box to my cables and verified that the problem was theirs, not my modem/router. And from the very next night, I had continuous, 24 hour connection. I rang him to ask what the problem was, and he said that they dug up and replaced the old cable down the road (narrow diameter and many old repair joins). They replaced it with a new, larger diameter cable. So now, I only get a drop-out every couple of hours, and that for only a couple of minutes before it automatically reconnects. A pain when I'm on Skype, but pretty standard here. But he still cannot explain why it used to disconnect punctually at the identical time every night.

Thanks, I still notice some break-up (gaps) but not all the time. As for Netflix and speed, I started my Netflix trial on my computer (not HDTV - that is yet to arrive) and a 1.5 mb DSL (this DSL consistently tested at 1.5 +/- 10%). I had Netflex video quality set to "automatic" and can say I saw what was clearly better HD than SDTV, may have something to do with my computer display too. I also had some break-up so I decided to upgrade to 3 mb but while talking with the ISP representative they came up with a complete rework of my telecom plan, adding many features including unlimited LD and voice mail with 8 mb for less that the cost of upgrading to 3 mb - go figure, i did and took the package. On the side, one reason I kept my local telephone service and without LD is I am retired from AT&T and I get reimbursed for my LD on AT&T. For these reasons and a general dislike for the beating I've taken over the years from cable for cost of TV I didn't want to give cable any more business. That could change, but if the teleco had fiber to the home that would be considered. But I may also decide to buy Satellite from the Telco - a triple pay package. Anyway, I still get some break-up and Netflix should downgrade my quality not let interrupts happen... or can't Netflix "see" when a DSL stream has a short break in it..if that is what happens. My ISP teck says my signal tests constant and a bit over 8 mb. I'll try giving Netflix some time to build a bigger (?) buffer on my computer. I am testing on W8, so the laptop is fairly powerful with 8 GB of "RAM"... I'll have to check that, that's what I recall.