when i view my "network connections", it says that my modem is disconnected. despite the fact that i am obviously online.

when i normally go to disconnect my computer, i right click on that icon and click "disconnect". but in this case, since it's showing it's already disconnected, it only gives me the option of connecting.

how do i fix this status icon, and how do i disconnect from the internet without physically detaching the phone line?

Is it possible that you have multiple connections set up?

That's what I'm wondering too.

is this a old PC that maybe has two modem cards installed?

its very possible you have them both installed, and are technically only using the active modem, but still showing the other as unavailable.

this happens to me alot on old dell gx110's, cause the motherboard has an intergrated nic card, and sometimes we have to put in a different nic card, and disable the other.

if you are showing two modem cards, what you should do is, the one with the red x on it (meaning its not plugged in/working) right click, and then choose disable.

try to connect, if it doesnt work getting online, than its some kind of glitch with your system.

if you have windows xp, uninstall your modem card, boot the computer up, let it recognize that you no longer have it, then shut down, reinstall it, and go from there

thanks for all of that, although i have no idea what half of it means.

i re-started my computer, and i haven't had another problem(yet).