dial-up connection dialogue box persistently pops up

[Mike L]

My mother has XP home edition. Everything was working
fine until she installed AOL. Now, even after
uninstalling all the AOL instant messaging, etc., the
dial-up connection dialogue box pops up when any new
window is opened. For example, just opening MY COMPUTER
prompts the dial-up connection box. Please help.

 

[adrian916]

Unfortunately, this seems to be a problem with the AOL
program, which seems to spread itself around when
installed. I connected someone to ADSL a few months ago
after they had used AOL. Every time they closed internet
explorer then opened it again, AOL was trying to dial,
but as the pc was set to "never dial a connection" it
wouldn't work, but in the process, it also prevented the
ADSL connection from establishing and a reboot was the
only thing that would cure it - very annoying!

You say you have uninstalled AOL, but although this may
be reported as being successful, it will have probably
left quite a few files behind. click start/search/files
and folders(include sytem and hidden)and see how many AOL
files it brings up. Delete these manually to complete the
uninstall. (just make sure that they are definitely from
the AOL program - there may be some genuine system files
that contain the letters A, O, and L)

 

[Jerry]

You could try a System Restore to a date before AOL was installed. That
should kill off the blighter!

 

[unclebob]

go to control panel/internet options/connection tab/check
the settings, see if its anything obvious, eg, always dial
up, try selecting, never dial up, that way IE no longer
controls your dial up.