Can't connecto to the Internet: Windows 98, 56k external modem, laptop

1) I have a laptop running Windows 98

2) I tripped on the phone cord and broke the internal modem

3) I bought an Actiontec external 56k serial modem

4) This ran fine for several months UNTIL Windows 98 crashed and I
reinstalled the operating system

5) Windows 98 has been reinstalled and THAT seems to work fine

6) When connecting to my internet provider, the computer lets me know
it is dialing the number (I can hear it dial)

7) The computer lets me know it is verifying the password and username

8) The external modem shows the light to let me know it is "on",
briefly shows the lights for transmit and receive

9) Internet Explorer opens, but only has a grey screen (no pictures or
words in the "image" area)

10) After about half a minute, I get the error message: "Internet
Explorer cannot open the site [I typed in CNN's website, and other
ones that should be up all the time], A connection with the server
could not be established. [Followed by the "Ok" button only]

11) My desktop has the same internet provider , so it is not a problem
with the provider's side. I am using Windows XP on that machine.

12) I was able to connect with the laptop and the external modem so
that works

13) I have gone over the instructions over and over again and I cannot
figure out what could be wrong (all the checkboxes and settings seem
to be right)

14) I contacted the modem company and they told me to disable the
internal modem and the "standard" modem, which I did. That did not
help. They told me that they could not help me more than that because
it is dialing the internet service.

Any ideas?

For advice specific to problems with secure sites, have a look at the first
link - for general advice, have a look at the second:

http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers2.htm#secure_sites
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers.htm#dns


--
_______________________________________
Sandi - Microsoft MVP since 1999 (IE/OE)
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org

"tech guy" wrote in message
om...
1) I have a laptop running Windows 98

2) I tripped on the phone cord and broke the internal modem

3) I bought an Actiontec external 56k serial modem

4) This ran fine for several months UNTIL Windows 98 crashed and I
reinstalled the operating system

5) Windows 98 has been reinstalled and THAT seems to work fine

6) When connecting to my internet provider, the computer lets me know
it is dialing the number (I can hear it dial)

7) The computer lets me know it is verifying the password and username

8) The external modem shows the light to let me know it is "on",
briefly shows the lights for transmit and receive

9) Internet Explorer opens, but only has a grey screen (no pictures or
words in the "image" area)

10) After about half a minute, I get the error message: "Internet
Explorer cannot open the site [I typed in CNN's website, and other
ones that should be up all the time], A connection with the server
could not be established. [Followed by the "Ok" button only]

11) My desktop has the same internet provider , so it is not a problem
with the provider's side. I am using Windows XP on that machine.

12) I was able to connect with the laptop and the external modem so
that works

13) I have gone over the instructions over and over again and I cannot
figure out what could be wrong (all the checkboxes and settings seem
to be right)

14) I contacted the modem company and they told me to disable the
internal modem and the "standard" modem, which I did. That did not
help. They told me that they could not help me more than that because
it is dialing the internet service.

Any ideas?