If you don't know how to resolve these problems, get help from your computer manufacturer or sales outlet. You should never expect to connect at the maximum connection speed for your modem. Many factors affect connection speeds, including the quality of your modem, the distance between you and the telephone company's local office, and noise on the line, to mention just a few. Something is wrong if you are connecting at speeds much lower than your modem is capable of or if your modem dials out but can't connect. If you have an external modem, check the connections and the power.
Many modems have a line in and a phone jack.
Consider downloading the latest modem drivers from the manufacturer's Web site. If the connection problem has just started, think about recent changes to your computer or your environment. An answering machine, for example, could interfere with your modem. To check if line noise is interfering with your connection speeds attach a phone to the same jack as the modem. If you hear background noise, contact your telephone company to see if it can eliminate some of it.