The ISP that I use for for my DSL also provides a dial-up number. You might check your ISP's website to see if they offer something similar. I think that you would use the same login information for the dial-up access that you use for your DSL account.
As for updating IE. The executable file that you download gets the necessary updates from Microsoft servers. Be prepared for a very large file download.
Thank you! That is an option I will check out now.
I do have a data link cable I am going to try to hook up and see if that will help. It's USB 2.0 so I'll check to see if the old laptop can take that.