My 1st thoughts are that it's as a result of the way you're using LW. A dial up connection can only take so much traffic.
I have a suspicion you're downlding or trying to downld too many files at once or worse, using the Resume or Find Sources function on a no. of files at once. The latter function does have its side-FX! It can have side-fx such as affect LW's connection quality. May queue your files for much much longer. This will also stress LW & your comp. If you use Resume/Find sources then just apply it to a couple or so at one time. If this is the case then my tip is to follow all the offshoot links from this page:
To continue files downlding (click on link)