For testing purposes, try disabling modem/dial-up protocols. May want to write down current settings if you can't remember them. For modem, disable compression & error-control & remove any "extra" settings in its properties in DIAL-UP (not Device manager). In Network properties, dial-up adapter/ advanced, disable point-to-point, IPX-header compression, log on to network & software compression. May want to check "Record a log file for this connection" to get a PPP log to examine -- might tell you something.