bckrd1,
can you view your mail online and confirm that there is something in the mail box?
since you are using dial up can you confirm that when you try to access mail that you are connected to the net?
do this by having your broswer (ie, aol, firefox, etc) on a web page then attempt to download your mail.
if you are connected, followed the instructions, get no help from customer service and still can't download your mail a system restore may solve the problem.
i don't use aol - i use earthlink - much better customer service.
regards,
longhair