Computer help: Connection Problems

Connection Problems

I am using a dial-up connection, and for some reason, somehow messages are being missed somehow between my modem and WindowsXP. Or that is the way I am thinking, but I'm hoping someone has answers.

When I connect to my ISP, there are two little modems blinking in my task bar that let me know I am connected. It used to be that while they were blinking, I always knew I was still connected. When they disappeared, the connection was lost. That is no longer happening now.

I will connect to my ISP, and then proceed to download my e-mail or whatever. Then, while in the middle of something (sending an e-mail, or trying to access a web site) everything stops responding (message that mail server ended connection, im's go off-line, "cannot find page" if opening browser) but those two little monitors are still blinking away, implying that I am still connected.

On some rare occasions, I will not be able to get e-mail, or open a web page, but the IM still appears to be connected also, but that is very rare.

So it seems to me I've lost my connection, but my computer is not getting the message for some reason. I have to manually disconnect, and then re-connect.

And along with this problem is the fact that for some reason of late, where I used to be connected all day long, now I have a terrible time keeping the connection. Often I will lose the connection (although I don't know it right away) almost immediately after being connected, or withing a very short period of time. But then at other times, I will be able to stay connected for an hour or so before actually losing it (but the monitors are still blinking). It is only occasionally that the connection will be lost and my computer will actually realize it and then try to re-connect.

I sure hope someone knows/understands what I am trying to explain because it has become very frustrating when trying to complete certain transactions over the Internet, and then losing my connection in the middle of it, but not knowing it because the PC doesn't know it either! :mad

Sandie
Windows XP SP2
Compaq Prosario 6420NX
AMD Athlon XP 2200+
480 MB of RAM