What says, where does it say it, are you talking about Internet Explorer,
are you talking about Outlook Express, are you talking about some other
application, does "it" say this in any application you use while online, do
you have a broadband connection, if yes, is it DSL or Cable or are you on a
dialup connection? When "it" says you are working offline, are you still
able to function in that application, are you still able to surf or whatever
it is you normally do when you are online?