Executing Automatic Dial-Up with XP

I'm relatively new to using XP, but have oodles of experience using prior Windows O/S versions. I use a dial-up Internet connection, and while I've had no trouble in setting up the dial-up connection and connecting to the Internet, in contrast to Window 98, I've never been able to get my dial-up interface to come up and actually automatically initiate the dial-up sequence, when I launch a browser.

When I launch a (any) browser, the dial-up interface will come up, but I always have to click on the Dial button to start the modem actually dialing. Under the Control Panel/Internet/Options/Connections, I've got the settings to Dial whenever a network connection is not present, but changing the settings to Always dial doesn't seem to have any effect either. Under Windows 98, I know you would just check the two boxes on the dial-up interface (password save and dial automatically I recall), to make this all happen automatically.

Also, when I shifted to XP (on a new laptop I purchased), I noted that the Dial-up interface screen is much bigger than what displayed under Windows 98, but except for some minor differences, it has much the same in the way of functionality that I was used to. Any suggestions to get the Dial-up to well, dial. I can't believe that capability was eliminated under XP.

 

Okay, sounds easy - but as I indicated in the query, I tried using the setting for Always dial . . . or Dial when no connection . . . , and in both instances the dial-up interface will come up, but it always requires user intervention to actually click on the the Dial button.

I read the suggestion of just " . . .check 'Connect Automatically', and That should be it ". Well, on the dial-up interface I'm looking at, the interface doesn't provide an option to check Connect Automatically, hence the comment in my last paragraph that the XP dial-up interface is different than Windows 98 (which I acknowledge does have the Connect Automatically option).

I snapped a screen capture of the dial-up interface that I'm looking at, but I don't see that the windowsBBS has an interface to allow me to insert an image or to attach an image file.

At least for now, I'm at least a half a step ahead of the proposed solutions, but we're still not any closer to an actual solution. More feedback?

 

Hi, CDobyns. Welcome to Windows BBS!

I think attaching an image to a post is a feature available only to paid contributors/subscribers at Windows BBS.

Perhaps you can host the image somewhere else and post a link to it?

 

Hmm, okay this is an interesting angle of shifting to the Windows Classic menu. Although I'm still relatively new to XP, I did see that how under Start/Properties, you can shift back and forth to the menu you are more familiar with.

Okay, I tried this approach and switched over to the Classic Menu, and the XP "style" dial-up interface still comes up. And to illustrate what I'm "seeing ", I took the suggestion and posted up the image off the Photobucket location (that was a good, convenient and very easy way to do that, thanks).

http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z319/CGDobyns/?action=view&current=Dial-Up-1.jpg

 

CDobyns,

I think my Windows XP Home SP2 (Classic theme) used to automatically dial whenever I booted my computer. I think it was due to anti-malware applications checking for updates. If I recall correctly, that annoyed me so I configured my computer to dial only when I tell it to.

I placed a dial-up icon on my desktop. I right-click the icon and select "Connect ". That "automatically" dials my ISP and logs me in. Perhaps that is satisfactory for you.

If you want to place a dial-up icon on your desktop, then

• In the Control Panel > Network Connections window, hold down your Ctrl key while you click and drag the icon to your desktop.

Please go into Control Panel > Network Connections.
Right-click on your default dial-up account and select Properties.
Select the Options tab.

Are the following options UNchecked?

• Prompt for name and password, certificate, etc.
• Prompt for phone number

Is the following checked?

• Redial if line is dropped
  (This depends on your preference about having your modem automatically dial and reconnect when your ISP disconnects you.)

Under the General tab, do your have your ISP phone number saved?

You might want to check out all the other tabs and buttons in the ISP Properties window to verify things are as you want.

If these suggestions don't get you running the way you want, then I'll do a little playing to see if I can get my machine to automatically dial when I open Firefox, IE, or an anti-malware app wants to check for updates. Which browser do you primarily use?

 

Okay, "snaps" and kudos to mailman for identifying the solution. Upon reviewing the properties for my default connection, lo and behold it was prompting for the name, password and phone number. After unchecking those two boxes, the dial-up interface skipped right to executing the dial-up, when the (any) browser is now launched. This is my first successful posting on the BBS, is there a convention or capability to "mark" this problem as Solved, so that others will benefit from a successful solution and so that others will not unnecessarily waste time delving into a problem that is already solved?

 

Thanks, Pete.

I did some poking around in my settings and didn't find a "Connect automatically" setting either.

My connection does not present a window like you posted either so it might be a Home vs Pro variable.

CDobyns, what flavor of Windows XP (Home, Pro, or MCE) are you running?

BTW, I discovered the Network Connections settings I mentioned in my above post are also reachable via the Internet Options and it seems CDobyns might have been there already. If so, (s)he may disregard that suggestion as well.

 

That's GREAT news! Glad to know your problem is resolved so quickly (and I get a good "feeler" knowing I was instrumental towards the fix!).

 

BTW, threads are not normally "closed" here or marked as "resolved ".

Threads stay open for 60 days (I think) from the most recent post in case problems people thought were resolved turn out to be ongoing.

 

Yeah, this was good stuff, and I think this question was answered in less than 24 hours. And for the record, I'm running XP Professional. Thanks again!