Problem with Internet connection, help please

First off I don't understand why Microsoft had to mess with this feature. Why if I'm the only one using this computer do I need another account. If I'm logged on as Administrator, I can access the Internet just fine. If I try to log on using the other account I can't open IE8. I can log onto the ISP ok, but I get a message that my Earthnet cable is not working. Maybe that's because I don't have an Earthnet connection. I have a dial-up modem.
I even set up a second Administrative account but I can't get any further with that than the regular account. it too tells me my Earthnet connection is broken.

Any ideas on how to correct this problem????

Yep, it's always Microsoft's fault.

Would you happen to mean ethernet...instead of Earthnet? Some computers have helper apps to control network connections, and also that will prompt when something becomes disconnected. You have a desktop, though, so that's not likely.

You don't need multiple user accounts to get online either. It sounds like something is corrupt under one or the other, or a setting is wrong under one user account concerning how they default to the internet. It's been a LONG time since I've had to troubleshoot a computer with a dial-up connection, and by default, Windows 7 assumes you have some sort of broadband, always-on connection. IE used to let you specify which connection you would use by default, so check on that. If you truly aren't using the network card, aka ethernet, you could always disable it in the BIOS, or, better yet, in Device Manager.

Yeah; Ethernet, that's it.

Here is the story on the multiple account thing. One of the forums I need to access for my "imaging software" (Macrium Reflect) tells me my account is corrupt to create a new administrative account and try to log on with it. I did that, but when I went to use it I couldn't get IE8 to open to even try connecting to the forum. So... I then checked the regular account Windows 7 has you set up to use instead of the administrative one, same thing. In all of the years I've used Windows I have never needed or wanted a separate account. However if for some reason that account is corrupt I need to figure out how to access the Internet.

I couldn't find it in the Device manager. What is it listed under??

It would be listed under Network Adapters. If it isn't there, you either need to make sure it is enabled in the BIOS, or have drivers loaded for it.

Do you need software to connect using your dial-up service? It's been a decade since I used dial-up, so I don't remember much about it. Simply put, you just need to compare the two profiles to see what's not configured.

How do you know your original account is corrupt? If I truly suspected a corrupt account, I'd back my data up and do a clean install. I would think you'd know right away if the account was truly corrupt, and wouldn't need an online forum to tell you.

Thanks I found it and disabled it but it didn't fix whatever the problem is. I'm wondering if I have to install the ISP separately for every user account. I've contacted Netzero and asked if they know anything about it.
I don't know the account is corrupt, I was just trying to find out by setting up an alternate. I just did this whole installation 2 days before Christmas. I'm with you, it's hard to believe it would be corrupt already.

I have 3 backup programs on here and I can't get 2 of them to verify a good image of the hard drive. Since I don't know exactly what Windows 7 Pro is backing up I don't trust it, especially since the other two fail.