Or just people who know what they're doing. I'm on 56k, and I really really want out. I mean... I just can't get out. Here's the story so far.

One happy evening, I ordered Broadband, a 2mbps package that had unlimited bandwidth. It was to replace my 56k, the dreaded and horrid connection I had despised all these years. Finally, once my exchange had been activated, I urgently plugged it all in. I pressed the on bottom. I put in the details (checked over extensively, this is not the error). I dialled. I waited. It returned a "Verifying username and password" every 30 seconds or so, and finally, died of a ping timeout. It could not establish a connection to the remote server, or rather couldn't get a reply.

I've phoned up the company and after several tests and walkthrough instructions, got me to basically check I'd done everything correctly, they were clueless as to what happened, so I'm stopping by to ask if anyone here is particularly gifted in the arts of broadband connections.

The guys suggested that my dial-up networking might've been functioning incorrectly, though I'm guessing since the 56k dial-up works, the broadband should. I've tried re-installing the modem/software MANY times.

I'm just... lost as to what to do next. Anyone got any ideas? I'm not wanting to re-format the computer, but that's my final plan if nothing else works.

Yours most desperately and sadly,
Oxy

your name reminds me of oxycontin

I ended up re-installing.

-And now I've got DSL.

re-installing what exactly? Windows? Modem?

Modem doesn't work when re-installed. Same problem.

Same thing happened to me. Turns out my hillbilly phone line is too rusticated for all that highfalutin technology. So yeah, it's dial-up for you. For the rest of your life.

Does your DSL modem find the network (check "Ready" or equivalent led)? If that particular status light is off, then the modem cannot find the network at all. Otherwise it's most likely settings, because usually companies won't sell DSL to addresses that cannot have one.

Of course it can also be something at the company's end. If that's the case, you should just try to reach a person who actually can check their end and not some blockhead who thinks Jesus oversees the company, and every problem is enduser's fault.

what type of connection is it?

Cable? xDSL? Satellite?

Anyway, depending on the modem you might be able to access a configuration and/or status page at http://192.168.100.1/

Well It's an ADSL 2mbps connection, usb modem. The phone people were useless as usual.

It just connects, you know those status messages you get?

It like does this...

is your connection one that actually requires a user name and password?
I know there's an option for an always on connection, and one with a user-name and password on the network wizard. My dsl doesn't require a name and password.

Who's your provider? You should check their site to see if you need to specify a username and password. Also, connecting it to ethernet would be better than USB. As you're using usb, did you install the drivers?

My bad, I meant to say "Reformat".

-I had to reformat to get cable working. Then I switched to DSL, for a variety of reasons.

Are you sure the extra two wires are connected to the jack? You can wire a phone without those extra wires, so that could be a possibility.

Ahh well, I'm getting an ethernet modem tomorrow, £25 from a guy in my computing class, he seemingly supplies cheap but good equipment. Thanks for the suggestions, I swear... everything for the USB modem is as should be, it simply doesn't work.

USB DSL modem... Where on earth did you dig up such an abomination?

I didn't have to dig, it came in the post with my details. Pipex sends it as the default modem for installation.

Sucks, getting a cool Ethernet thing, should be reallllly awesome

When I had BellSouth ADSL, they provided a USB modem.

Ethernet is simply more reliable when it comes to modems. Any decent broadband company will provide you with a modem that supports both ethernet and cable, as well as actually giving you cables and USB drivers. USB is what you fall back on when you think your ethernet cable has gone bad and you're too desperate or lazy to run out and buy another one.