OptiPlex 745 and Earthlink TotalAccess mail program problems

Hi all: Newbie here and not a computer techie, just a surfer.  I selected this forum because the other two choices were for Audio and Video and I don't have a problem connected with either.  I don't know if my problem has to do with hardware and after I describe what I'm experiencing perhaps one or more of you can suggest an appropriate forum.

I have an OptiPlex 745 and a GX620.  I bought the 620 after I experienced problems with the 745 resulting from Microsoft Update downloads.  Before that, though, a driver download from DELL rendered the computer useless so I had to reformat the hard drive and start all over.  Now, the 745 had to be retired because of MS updates and after reformatting the hard drive I had to put it aside and sell it on ebay and it was replaced with the 620 but that one also suffered from update downloads and no amount of reformatting brought it back to normal so I'm offering it on Craigslist and if it doesn't sell as FIX/PARTS it goes on the ebay auction block.

Now here's why I'm here hoping for positive results.  I use Earthlink TotalAccess - MailBox.  Never a problem and after reformatting they would install it with one or two techs telling me that the program was not compatible with MS Service Pack 3 (SP3) but after taking over my computer they installed it successfully.  A few days ago while shutting the 745 down I went to click on Turn Off when I saw a shield attached to the button.  I had selected that Microsoft do not download updates automatically and here they were doing it.  I got angry and clicked the turn off button without reading everything underneath which had a choice for turning off without downloading updates.  My angry haste resulted in the computer not starting up normally and nothing I clicked on opened especially the Earthlink icon which was my gateway to the web and my Google homepage.  Of course it resulted in yet another reformatting and a call to Earthlink.

This time a high-level Earthlink tech tried to help me but he had problems downloading TotalAccess and he made many trips all over the PC and, especially the Registry but could not download TotalAccess so that it was its old self.  He also claimed that SP3 was the culprit or one of them.  Before, when the PC started I would click on the Earthlink icon on my desktop screen, the sign-in popup appeared and Google would open with Earthlink in the background.

Now, once the desktop appears there is also a popup and I wait until the PC settles down before I click on the Yes button of the popup.  That popup is followed by 2 more before the PC automatically goes to Google with Earthlink behind it.

The 1st popup says: Sign-In - There aren't any locations configured on this computer. Would you like to add one now? YES/NO (I click YES)

The 2nd popup says: No Dial-up Hardware Found - Your computer does not have a modem with which to establish a dial-up connection. Please make sure that your dial-up modem is connected properly and try again. OK (I click OK)

The 3rd popup, an Earthlink popup, says: Connection Type - How will you be connecting to Earthlink: Dial-up with Earthlink [Modem with 28.8, 56k, etc.] - Home Office/Networking [LAN, Router, etc.] (The Dial-up is checked but I uncheck it by checking Lan... since my connection is through Time Warner Cable)

The 2nd and last Earthlink popup says: Click the Finish button to create your new connection. - LAN [7] - Broadcom NetXetrme 57xx Gigabit Controller - Home/Office Network (I click on Finish)

After clicking on Finish, for one second another popup appears and this is the old Sign-in popup that now says "Work Offline".  The old form of this popup did not say "Work Offline".  After I clicked on Sign In it would open my Google homepage with Earthlink at the top and which allows me to go to my TotalAccess MailBox.

I had to describe each popup because I do not see a link to uploading images.  But from what I've described, can anyone offer a fix?  All help will be appreciated as I don't feel like reformatting the 745 again and maybe endup with the same problem that Earthlink doesn't seem to fix in order for me to have my old Sign-in process.

In your replies, please do not treat me harshly as I've suffered enough handling 2 computers and what seems like thousands of Microsoft Windows updates with some taking forever to download and install.

I'm going to be 75 on Monday (18th) and I've reached the end of my line with computers that do not have the ability to self-diagnose and try to control me instead of me controlling them.