Windows

This is very generic but relevent, get hold of your ISP tech and allow him/her to walk you through the steps, they usually have their own setup unique to their particular view of service , and they are familiar with the little nasties that can creapin due to repeated exposure to setups, and as a matter of course , breeze through the little hangs you are experiancing.

skip the wizard to do that right click on the internet explorer icon on the desktop and choose properties or go to the control panel and choose internet on the connection tab make your choice, now the next time you start Internet Explorer the wizardwill not pop up.

Right click on your network neighborhood, and see if the Tcp/IP protocol is loaded. If not, no internet.

( You could be connecting to the lan via another protocol such as IPX, Netbui etc )

the problem that only the splash screen appears is after you right click the icon and choose properties and setup the connection settings, or you did not try setting the connection settings thru the internet properties only thru the ICW?

Not sure if you are on a Network, but if you are and have access to your run command I would type poledit there. If it (Microsoft Policy Editor)is installed, check under File > Open Registry > Local User. See if there are any Program Restrictions placed on this machine by your Net Administrator that can be adjusted by you.

If none of the above applies to your situation I would install another copy of IE. Obviously there is something wrong with this one. I believe what is happening is that IEW is checking for your modem though you have directed it otherwise. Not finding it or being unable to communicate with it it freezes. Yet it never brings up the warning prompt that lets you know the error.