Please forgive if all wrong - my second post!
I am on phone dialup (Ugh!)
Access to Internet explorer was always brisk - but no longer now!
Used to open (BBC news) in 7 seconds (Bt dialup time)
In 2 seconds if already on line.
Now SOMETIMES opens, but often sticks doing nowt but egg-timing.
Yet if I RESTART the computer it accesses IE really quick
Also I have noticed of late that it I open IE WITHOUT phone connection it reminds me (for 1/4 sec!) before hiding it! (It says dial up if I were only quick enough to read it!)
Also if I AM sconnected (say for emails) it STILL says "connect" or words to that effect
It seems that the "permanent egg-times" is a symptom of "Not being connected"
Under "tools" there is an "option" that either ticks or does not tick "work offline" which it ticks or not at random without consulting me!
As I say the only SURE solution is to RESTART my computer before EVERY attempt to open IE.
It is of course driving me bonkers!
Thanks for your ideas, help and interest
Sorry, Bill G does not want me to be able to send you details of how my m/c is set up. He hides behind undefined words like "performance" and "services"