Tried emptying and reinstalling the network protocols - no joy. I'm on my other (XP) computer now, so I'll try the network wizard. Client for Microsoft Networks is definitely only required for a LAN or broadband setup; it's not needed for a solo computer on a dial-up connection. In any case, it makes no odds whether it's installed or not - except that you have a useless 'Network Neighborhood' icon on the desktop, and it stops remembering your dial-up password!
Which empire?!