I recently went from dsl to a regular landline phone. There is a dialtone at the box outside but not on the lines n the house. What do I need to do? I'm trying to avoid paying the high fee for the phone company to come out.

See what colors are at the box outside, remove one of your previously working jacks and see what colors are used, Example: red and green or Blue/white, white blue? The wires connected to the red and green on jack is what's important.
Bell South went out of business doing crap like that(Generate another Service Call).