KP wrote "Does anybody know why this happens, why can i connect and log on first time only very rarely but have no problems with a second attempt shortly after?"
Absolutely YES! Like you I've tried to be loyal to BTInternet Anytime right from the start but my situation is even worse than yours. But my problem is different.
I dial up normally using either IE or OE and will get a connect and logon almost instantly; and then almost instantly a disconnect. If I'm doing e-mail, it reconnects automatically almost instantly and then stays logged on most of the time. Whenever there is a disconnect, an automatic dial-up is re-initiated by my system. But this means I can't leave the PC to do timed connects for e-mail downloads.
As you say, It's OK after I show some determination and I've rarely had a disconnect during even protracted downloads.
But it's infuriating all the same and I keep telling myself that I'm going to send BT Openworld a broadside of invective.
Incidentally, in the 5 mins or so that I been typing this, the PC has been disconnected twice and has re-connected itslf automatically without a problem. So why does BT do it? It achieves nothing except aggravation.
Interesting to learn that I'm not alone.
{Edit to say that that was four disconnects while I composed that post!}
[ 26 January 2002: Message edited by: fobotcso ]</p>