Unable to make connection to MSN

Hi Everyone:

 

I would like some help in troubleshooting getting connected to MSN.  Any help or suggestions would be great.  Thanks in advance.  Here are the details:

 

1) I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 with a Actiontec MD560RD modem and with the latest driver installed (R50360),  My Windows XP Pro reports the driver date to be 8/2002.  I believe that is the latest.

 

2) The problem that I will describe in a moment only began happening about 1 week ago, before that everything was fine.  No new hardware or software has been installed.  Anyway, the problem is that when I use MSN 9.0 to connect to the internet, I do hear the dialing out sound, I even hear all that handshaking noise (as I did in the past) but then everything goes quite.  Now in the past in just a moment after the silence, I would connect and the dialup would happen (I would see some little icon in my system tray with green lights which told me I was connected), but now, nothing happens (and no little icon in my system tray either) and MSN will then redial a different number (same thing happens on another number too).

 

3) I almost want say the modem is bad, but I do get a dial-tone and I do get all that handshaking sound so that makes me thing the modem is okay.

 

4) I tried on a different phone line and same problem.  I did not hear any static or noise on the line or if it is there it is beyond my capacity to hear it.

 

5) I have followed MSN instruction to reset the dial configuration but to no avail. 

 

6) I thought the phone numbers might be bad, but on another computer those same numbers connect just fine.

 

7) I have delete all modems and reinstalled the driver.  No luck.

 

8) I used Modem properties to force the connection at 19200 or even 56000 (from the default of 111500 or something like that) but no luck.

 

9) But there is a another odd thing, when resetting the MSN dial settings, MSN has to dial out to some crazy 1-888 number to download local phone numbers in my area.  Now this particular number connects just fine!  Of course, MSN keeps this connection alive only for a second or two to get those numbers.  Now that is weird huh?

 

9) What am I missing?  I want to almost call Dell Support, but to be honest doesn't sound like the modem is bad. 

 

I sure would love any suggestions anyone might have.  Again, thanks in advance.

 

Amar