the window opens, and a box opens saying can't find connection asking if i want to retry or work offline, it just doesn't try to connect...
opera just says no network, both used to dial a connection as soon as they were opened..

now i have to open incredimail (or other program to dial up) first then open i.e which then works fine..
incredimail uses the same connection as i.e (as i have only one) but i.e won't even try to connect even i click retry

and i am broadband, but i don't like to leave it connected

In IE go to tools/internet options/connections and check off always dial my default connection.
as for opera ,I don't use it sorry .
You can connect using you ISP dialup icon , and then go to IE or opera ,Right !!

always dial my default connection is checked, and i can connect by other means, but just not a browser

Got Me!!
you say they always did dial your broardband dialup connection .

yes, until the 13th

i did have a windows update on the 11th and i suspect that is the cause

you really should read the licence to incrediblemail i did and it knocked me for six here a portion "Any unsolicited materials submitted or sent to IncrediMail, will be deemed to be not confidential or secret. By submitting or sending information or other material to IncrediMail you" and "Unless stated specifically otherwise therein, grant IncrediMail an unrestricted, perpetual, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, display, perform, modify, transmit and distribute the material, and you further agree that IncrediMail is free to use any ideas, know-how, concepts or techniques you send us for any purpose, without any compensation to you or any other person."

Im on dial-up and have identical prob, Outlook express or ANY other piece of software that wants to connect to the web will bring up the autoconnect box, but IE just doesnt see any connection.

Allways dial my default is checked.

re-created dialler
re-installed IE
made sure registry is saying to "autoconnect"

but IE will not play, this i think was after a Critical update from Microcr*p

i knew that about incredimail,

and i think that it was a critical update from microsoft that did it... nice to see it isn't just me, as it means i didn't break it

well i suppose you could download a fresh copy of IE6 and reinstall. you can download here for instructions on how to get a full fresh copy

problem gone now, no idea how?