Dial when network not present

This Internet setting is not working consistently on my XP-SP2 system. It works when I first bring I.E. up, detects I am connected to a network and does not try to dial a connection. Then during the session if it has been a couple of minutes or so since I last clicked a link, sent an e-mail, etc, when I click a link the dialup connection dialog pops-up. Apparently Windows no longer recognizes my network connection. If I open a command prompt and PING any site, the connection is once again recognized for a while. Is there a setting controlling this or a patch to fix this?

 

In your browser (if you run IE - not sure where the others keep it)
Tools~Internet Options~Connections~Never Dial A Connection

Not an XP issue and don't know your browser so moving this to the General Internet section.

 

Are you using a router? If so did you set it to always on and automatic reconnect? If not do so.
If you are using your ISPs software and direct to the modem, see if they have a time out and automatic reconnect setting.

 

No, no router. Why should the PING command never have a problem, as well as allow I.E. and O.E. to recognize the network again. The problem occures both while I am traveling and connected to hotel networks via eithernet card and also at home using wirerless connection to another system and ICS.

 

DSL is an always open connection. Even if you are not logged in to your account the connection is there when the light is on. It really depends on your ISPs setup, but often you can send ICMP (Internet connection management packets) or pings even when you are not logged in. But accessing web pages requires using their servers (computers) the DNS server to look up the IP associated with the address(URL) you typed in, and the WWW server to send the request to the site you want and collect the incomming packets and send them on to you . Your ISP undoubtedly limits access to these to customers logged in with a username and password.
So , if someothing causes them to log you off ( a momentary drop of signal, time out - going to long without any traffic , etc) the dsl connection reestablishes automatically so the ping works, but you are not logged in so the rest does not.


It could be you have "Disconnect when connection no longer needed" or "disconnect when idle" In IE/ tools / options / connections / settings /advanced
selected (although this normally only applies to dialup , the software used by your ISP may be affected)
IT could also be an option in your DSL connection software.
This is why I prefer using a router. Not only does its built in NAT provide a hardware firewall of sorts, but it can be set to keep your connection alive, and autoreconnect when it gets dropped.

You could also try removing your dialup connection entirely from the system.



I find the fact that it occurs when you travel and use hotel networks to be interesting.
But the fact that it occurs both with wireless and ethernet connection makes me feel it is software.