I did try to get the DSL hooked up tonight. OK, maybe this is obvious to most people, but when the SBC operator told me I could set up the DSL before the activation of the service tomorrow, I assumed that meant I could just turn on the computer tomorrow and be good to go. Well, after Step 4 was still running after nearly a half hour (total set-up time is suppose to be about a half hour) I thought something was wrong. I checked troubleshooting in the manual and it said something about installing equipment *after* the 'service order completion date/date due' which I take to mean the activation date of 2/24. The hardware is set up at least. That part I actually could have done without ever inserting the software. Gee, put the phone line in the phone port? Who knew! And the illustration putting the plug in the outlet? Very helpful.
And,
OK, time to go crash on the couch again...