Desperate need of Internet DSL advice needed....

[shadowkat]

I called Time Warner Roadrunner Service about a cable modem - to see if I could get one. Turns out it has to be connected to the TV cable and that won't work since the TV is across the room.

Also I have to install it myself. Also won't work. Live in an apartment - the cable for the TV snakes through a hole in the window cell, across the ceiling down a wall and to the TV. Plus cable has gone out three times last year so far.

So I called Verizon DSL - who informs me that I have to switch from Sprint to Verizon in order to get their DSL service. Phone service is currently Sprint.
Verizon would be cheaper, but no voice mail (that's extra ) - so actually the same amount. Also it's all self-install and requires some sort of Internet card (whatever that is) to attach the DSL Modem to the computer. So not sure my computer can handle it. Computer is 128 Ram, 32 bit.

What should I do?

1. Get a new computer (expensive - also a bit dicey regarding delivery, no one
here during the day.)
2. Switch phone services and get DSL, attempt to install, get the Internet Card? DSL is $29.95 a month. Can I even install this myself?
3. Try to get Time Warner to install cable modem. Cable Modem is 44.95 a month.

Or continue to live without for a while longer?

Any advice on this mucho appreciated.

Comments

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

One thing I've been meaning to ask you is if you have anti-spyware software on your computer. Some of the symptoms you've described about your dial-up service getting slower and slower sound like your computer is slowing down from spy-ware you got through the internet. Anti-spyware software is cheap compared to the other solutions.

I can't tell if I do or not.

I have the most recent Norton Anti-Virus program - 2005 which searches for Spyware and everything else and tells me I don't have it. Is that good enough?
If not where should I go to get some and how do I find out if my computer is infected with spyware??
(It's been getting slower and slower and slower as the time wears onwards.)

[atpolittlebit.livejournal.com]

If you're using Windows, I'd suggest Spybot-Search&Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html) and Ad-Aware (http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button). Between the two (both freeware) they do a decent job of keeping stuff off the system.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

If the Norton program says it specifically searches for spyware it probably does. But the computer getting slower and slower is a classic symptom of spyware on your system. With Norton's competitor, McAfee, Antispyware is a seperate program from the anti-virus program, and even gets its updates seperately. I think I'd open up your anti-virus program (like starting any program) and make sure all the settings are right to be sure it's searching for spyware as well as viruses and worms. Try finding any help files within the program which may aid you with this.

That's about all I can suggest.