Thanks to everyone, the blue bar works like magic.
InFinRetirement, thanks for that, tried new drivers on the modem, no avail. The machine was purchased ready assembled from PC World and I haven't been inside the case - yet !!
Stickyb, thanks, the HDD doesn't rattle, but flashed almost rythmicaly at about one flash per second.
ExSimGuy, thanks, the machine has 64k ram.
Narada, Tried updating the OS and modem driver, no avail. Loaded TweakDUN - absolutely brilliant so far, works like magic, thanks very much it'l save me the $15 dollars it cost after a week in phone charges.