Area code: Windows XP demands to know

DWalker07 · Mar 12, 2009

I just added someone's phone number to Outlook, and it decided to bring up
Windows XP's "Phone and Modem Options".

The Phone and Modem Options window asked me "what area code I am in now" on
the Dialing Rules page. Why does it care? Windows XP can't dial from my
computer.

I tried to cancel, and it said if I canceled, then the modem or telephone
dialing might not work, do I still want to cancel? I said Yes, and the
same box reappeared (maybe Outlook really, really wanted to know).

I don't HAVE a modem in my computer, or any device that can dial a
telephone. What area code am I in now? None! What if I'm on a cruise
ship in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, and not in ANY area code at all?

This dialog box has always bothered me since the earliest days of Windows
(Windows 95 had this, I think). The concept of a "home" area code is
getting less important. Windows doesn't need to know, and the dialing
rules (whether to use the area code or not) depend on which phone I happen
to have in my hand, none of which are connected to Windows. I store a few
phone numbers in Outlook, but I want Windows to quit asking me what area
code I am in.

I have a beta of Windows 7 on hand, so I'll see if it asks the same stupid
questions or not.

Sorry to rant; I suppose there is not a question here, just a complaint.

David Walker

Mark Adams · Mar 12, 2009

DWalker07 said:
I just added someone's phone number to Outlook, and it decided to bring up
Windows XP's "Phone and Modem Options".

The Phone and Modem Options window asked me "what area code I am in now" on
the Dialing Rules page. Why does it care? Windows XP can't dial from my
computer.

I tried to cancel, and it said if I canceled, then the modem or telephone
dialing might not work, do I still want to cancel? I said Yes, and the
same box reappeared (maybe Outlook really, really wanted to know).

I don't HAVE a modem in my computer, or any device that can dial a
telephone. What area code am I in now? None! What if I'm on a cruise
ship in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, and not in ANY area code at all?

This dialog box has always bothered me since the earliest days of Windows
(Windows 95 had this, I think). The concept of a "home" area code is
getting less important. Windows doesn't need to know, and the dialing
rules (whether to use the area code or not) depend on which phone I happen
to have in my hand, none of which are connected to Windows. I store a few
phone numbers in Outlook, but I want Windows to quit asking me what area
code I am in.

I have a beta of Windows 7 on hand, so I'll see if it asks the same stupid
questions or not.

Sorry to rant; I suppose there is not a question here, just a complaint.

David Walker

Control Panel, Add /Remove Programs I believe in the left panel you can add
or remove Windows features. Tell it to remove all the features associated
with dial up modems and networking. I think it'll stop asking for area codes
if you take out all the phone features.

John · Mar 12, 2009

I just did exactly as you described below. You're right. I'm trapped in a
loop that I can't get out of unless I enter an area code. This could be a
bug.

Unknown · Mar 12, 2009

A few things to consider or think about.
1. FAX numbers. Are you configured for FAX?
2. In some areas you must dial your own area code to reach others in your
same area code
3. Sometimes you must dial a 1 before an area code. Sometimes not.

Bill Sharpe · Mar 12, 2009

DWalker07 said:
I just added someone's phone number to Outlook, and it decided to bring up
Windows XP's "Phone and Modem Options".

The Phone and Modem Options window asked me "what area code I am in now" on
the Dialing Rules page. Why does it care? Windows XP can't dial from my
computer.

I tried to cancel, and it said if I canceled, then the modem or telephone
dialing might not work, do I still want to cancel? I said Yes, and the
same box reappeared (maybe Outlook really, really wanted to know).

I don't HAVE a modem in my computer, or any device that can dial a
telephone. What area code am I in now? None! What if I'm on a cruise
ship in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, and not in ANY area code at all?

This dialog box has always bothered me since the earliest days of Windows
(Windows 95 had this, I think). The concept of a "home" area code is
getting less important. Windows doesn't need to know, and the dialing
rules (whether to use the area code or not) depend on which phone I happen
to have in my hand, none of which are connected to Windows. I store a few
phone numbers in Outlook, but I want Windows to quit asking me what area
code I am in.

I have a beta of Windows 7 on hand, so I'll see if it asks the same stupid
questions or not.

Sorry to rant; I suppose there is not a question here, just a complaint.

David Walker

On the list of Windows annoyances this rates pretty low, I'd say. Just
put in 800 and move along.

Bill

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] · Mar 12, 2009

DWalker07 said:
I just added someone's phone number to Outlook, and it decided to
bring up Windows XP's "Phone and Modem Options".

The Phone and Modem Options window asked me "what area code I am in
now" on the Dialing Rules page. Why does it care? Windows XP can't
dial from my computer.

I tried to cancel, and it said if I canceled, then the modem or
telephone dialing might not work, do I still want to cancel? I said
Yes, and the same box reappeared (maybe Outlook really, really wanted
to know).

I don't HAVE a modem in my computer, or any device that can dial a
telephone. What area code am I in now? None! What if I'm on a
cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, and not in ANY area
code at all?

This dialog box has always bothered me since the earliest days of
Windows (Windows 95 had this, I think). The concept of a "home" area
code is getting less important. Windows doesn't need to know, and
the dialing rules (whether to use the area code or not) depend on
which phone I happen to have in my hand, none of which are connected
to Windows. I store a few phone numbers in Outlook, but I want
Windows to quit asking me what area code I am in.

I have a beta of Windows 7 on hand, so I'll see if it asks the same
stupid questions or not.

Sorry to rant; I suppose there is not a question here, just a
complaint.

David Walker

This is an Outlook thing. Outlook has the capability to dial, even if you
don't have or use a modem. Just enter the area code once and be done with
it.

DWalker07 · Mar 13, 2009

A few things to consider or think about.
1. FAX numbers. Are you configured for FAX?
2. In some areas you must dial your own area code to reach others in
your same area code
3. Sometimes you must dial a 1 before an area code. Sometimes not.

As I said, WINDOWS is not going to be doing ANY dialing. The area code
rules (whether to dial my own area code or not) are irrelevant to
Windows. PLUS, it depends on which phone I happen to have in my hand at
the moment -- my office phone, a cell phone, etc. WINDOWS shouldn't
care, since Windows is not doing ANY dialing. Windows can't know that,
and it shouldn't care. I should be able to cancel the dialog box.

I am not configured for FAX. I said in my message that there is nothing
in my computer that can dial any phone calls.

David

DWalker07 · Mar 13, 2009

This is an Outlook thing. Outlook has the capability to dial, even if
you don't have or use a modem. Just enter the area code once and be
done with it.

Outlook doesn't have the capability to dial! How can Outlook dial if
there is nothing connected to the computer that has a dial tone?

David Walker

DWalker07 · Mar 13, 2009

Control Panel, Add /Remove Programs I believe in the left panel you
can add or remove Windows features. Tell it to remove all the features
associated with dial up modems and networking. I think it'll stop
asking for area codes if you take out all the phone features.

Yes, but the Telephony service is (for some unfathomable reason) not one of
the things that can be removed, if I remember correctly. Even though I
don't have any dial-tone connected to my computer.

If you do manage to get Telephony disabled, there are lots of Web articles
that tell you the things that are now broken because of that.

David

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] · Mar 14, 2009

DWalker07 said:
Outlook doesn't have the capability to dial! How can Outlook dial if
there is nothing connected to the computer that has a dial tone?

David Walker

Heard of VOIP? UM? OCS? ;-)

Time required to enter area code once: <2 seconds
Time spent fussing about this: >24 hours

Etal · Mar 16, 2009

DWalker07 said:
I just added someone's phone number to Outlook, and it decided to bring up
Windows XP's "Phone and Modem Options".

The Phone and Modem Options window asked me "what area code I am in now" on
the Dialing Rules page. Why does it care? Windows XP can't dial from my
computer.

I tried to cancel, and it said if I canceled, then the modem or telephone
dialing might not work, do I still want to cancel? I said Yes, and the
same box reappeared (maybe Outlook really, really wanted to know).