On a LAN, but wants to dial up

Here's one I can't figure out- and the comp belongs to as friend hundreds of miles from here.

He described the problem as the comp wanting to establish a dial up connection, despite being on a LAN. This was my response:

Stop Dial-up Prompt

1: Set the option to Never dial a connection
in Internet Explorers Tools > Options > Connections

2: Click Start > Control Panel
Click Network and Internet Connections,
Click Network Connections
From the menu, choose Advanced > Dial-up Preferences,
and uncheck the Autodial check box for your location
under Enable autodial by location

This was his answer:
Thank you for getting involved with my irritation. Tried your suggestion and it partially improved the issue. Only "pops up" on startup, at this time.

Anyone have any ideas what to do next?
TIA

Johanna

 

one possible solution:
if not needed, disable/remove modem from control panel

 

Hi Johanna.

It sounds like you're right on the money.

There probably are a few more items to uncheck like "prompt for phone number" or "prompt for name and password" or "display message while dialing ", etc. One of them is bringing up the window, when the browser is loaded more than likely. If the modem connection is no longer needed you might suggest going to "Network Connections" and delete it. I would not recommend deleting the modem since they are a bear to get reinstalled sometimes.

Giles

 

Johanna.

I think I missed something the first time around. You mentioned they said it only pops up on startup. Does that mean on boot up or browser startup. If browser startup then my comments should apply. If on boot up then it might be any of the software trying to get online for some reason or other. If it is that you might be able to find what program is doing that by bringing up Windows Task Manager and taking a look.

Giles

 

If dialup was ever set as default connection, make sure it is now deselected. To add to giles software comment, weatherbug used to want mine to dialup.

 

Yes. It is possibly a program that when originally installed asked if it was a dial-up connection and has that embedded in that particular program rather than using XP's settings. In that case the program would have to be changed in the settings of that program area to eliminate the attempted dial-up.

Giles

 

It would be so much easier if I could sit at his desk and look around myself... You guys are probably right. A rogue program is trying to establish a dial up connection at boot. He doesn't have the faintest idea what is loading at boot, from what I gathered on the phone. It's an OEM, so it's full of stuff, and who knows what he has installed or collected? I asked him for a Belarc, and a list of his running processes from the task mgr. If I can persuade him to put Tight VNC on for me, I can probably fix it in about 5 minutes! LOL Thanks everybody!

Johanna

 

Don't Like Partial Solutions

I sent him this response, and the hyperlinks prob wont work from this c & p, but I think I pointed him in the right direction to fix it. Did I leave anything out, or explain it poorly?

John,
If you do not have a dial up account, go into Network Connections and delete any you find, unless you do keep a back up dial up account. If you do, make sure it's set to only dial at a prompt. (I have cable, too, but I keep a back up dial up because being offline is ---arrrggghhh!!!!)

I suspect you have a program loading at startup that is trying to access the internet and is attempting a dial up connection. Spyware and adware often do this. Spybot and AdAware will clean up any miscellany your system has acquired. Download these tools and run them often. Also, the event viewer in Administrative Tools might be helpful to identify the program that is trying to get online.

When you right click on the taskbar and bring up Task Manager you can see how many running processes you have. You only need your firewall/AV and system ones- the rest can safely be disabled from your start up. This tool is a great freebie to control what starts at boot without messing with msconfig. It will put a "startup" tab in your Control Panel. It is self explanatory. You will find improved performance if you decide what loads at boot, and what software should wait until you call on it. (A big problem with OEM machines). If you want to tweak, Black Viper is the authority.

If that doesn't clear up the problem run a Belarc and send it to me. I'll nail it down. Any questions, let me know.
Johanna
NKO USA

I appreciate suggestions.
Johanna

 

Only that if he does keep a dialup to make sure it is not set as default connection. I have cable and also keep a dialup and when I use it , it always seems to get set as default and then wants to dialup when accessing IE. Otherwise, looks good.

 

He was getting this dial up prompt constantly, and after following my first two suggestions, he only gets the message at boot. His other complaint is that the comp takes too long to boot. He hasn't downloaded and installed Mike Lin's Start Up for the Control Panel, yet, and when he does shut off the unnecessary programs, his unwanted dial up prompt problem ought to take care of itself. I told him to shut off everything that wasn't system or Norton, and if he needs something, he can always call on it to start it. If he takes my advice, should be "problem solved ". I'll let you know.
Thanks,
Johanna

 

If the problem doesn't get resolved by shutting down the programs, have him turn off the Norton stuff too. Could be it's trying to auto update when it's first loaded.

 

One more thought. Have you given any thought to remote desktop? I've never used it and dont' really know what you can all do with it, but it might be something worth looking into.

 

Remote Desktop works, but Tight VNC is better. (I think you need to have MS Messenger enabled for RD) If you ever want to play with T VNC, I'll let YOU connect to my computer!

Lately I've been installing it on computers that I know I will work on again, because it's easier and faster to troubleshoot when you are "there ", and virtually is enough, rather than try to talk the user through the steps and interpret the cryptic or wrong answers an inexperienced user will give you! Saves a "house call "! The first time you use T VNC it feels weird- like you're in a dream zone and everything is happening slowly and just kind of rolling in a surreal manner. It is a wonderful tool to fix those problems that are usually operator related, anyhow, and bypass the main problem, i.e., the operator!

Johanna