Sounds like a Layer1 problem....
Just joking, but give us more details.
Dial up or broadband connection?
Are you using filters?
How many other devices are hooked up to your phoneline?
Is a PBX involved?
Are your internet options correctly configured?
Is IE your default browser?
Do you have the relevant drivers installed, if needed?
Modem type?
Faulty modem?
Platform & OS?
Hardware?
Bad phone wiring?
US or Europe?

The more info you can supply, the better chance of helping you.
You need to be able to eliminate the variables one at a time, until you can pinpoint
the problem. Maybe you could get a friend with a lap-top and known working config to hook up to your line. Many lap-tops come with built-in dial up modems. But still, we just don't have sufficient info...

g8way2u