Windows 2000 and AOL problems.

I'm running Win 2K on a Sony Vaio with internal 'Conexant' modem. I've just installed AOL Ver.6. (incidentaly- Ver. 5 does not work ) This is extremely erratic in its dial up with dropped connections and an inability to consistently find AOL. When it does finally log on I cannot access anything on the Web, with an 'unable to find page' message. AOL services are available however ! This is all made even stranger because yesterday all seemed to be working fairly well (initial connection was a little unpredictable)- any ideas on what might be going on ?? Typically, AOL tech help are worse than useless !!