Can broadband connection be kept open when switching users?

[Cycle]

With XP Pro, can a broadband connection be kept open when switching users
via Start/Log Off/Switch User?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Broadband is an always-on service. It makes no difference who is logged on
or when or even if the computer is off. The broadband signal is always
present.

 

[Cycle]

Thank you for your response.

Umm. On my stand-alone computer, the broadband connection goes whenever
anyone switches user. The broadband connection icon has to be clicked to
connect again. Does this indicate something not working properly?

This icon also has to be clicked each time the computer is turned on and a
user account opened - is this what one would expect?

Regards

Cycle.

Broadband is an always-on service. It makes no difference who is logged
on or when or even if the computer is off. The broadband signal is always
present.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

With XP Pro, can a broadband connection be kept open when switching users
via Start/Log Off/Switch User?

 

[Guest]

if you switch profiles or reboot, the browser has to be reopened to access
the internet in that profile. Broadband is always on but the program to
access it is not.

Thank you for your response.

Umm. On my stand-alone computer, the broadband connection goes whenever
anyone switches user. The broadband connection icon has to be clicked to
connect again. Does this indicate something not working properly?

This icon also has to be clicked each time the computer is turned on and a
user account opened - is this what one would expect?

Regards

Cycle.

Broadband is an always-on service. It makes no difference who is logged
on or when or even if the computer is off. The broadband signal is always
present.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

With XP Pro, can a broadband connection be kept open when switching users
via Start/Log Off/Switch User?

 

[plb2862]

My Cox connection logs off when switching users. But the signal is still
there you just have to logon as the new user.

Thank you for your response.

Umm. On my stand-alone computer, the broadband connection goes whenever
anyone switches user. The broadband connection icon has to be clicked to
connect again. Does this indicate something not working properly?

This icon also has to be clicked each time the computer is turned on and a
user account opened - is this what one would expect?

Regards

Cycle.

Broadband is an always-on service. It makes no difference who is logged
on or when or even if the computer is off. The broadband signal is
always present.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

With XP Pro, can a broadband connection be kept open when switching
users via Start/Log Off/Switch User?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I agree with Roblee. If the icon you are referring to is a large blue e,
that is not a broadband icon. That is simply the Internet Explorer icon
that starts the browser. It may have a "branded" icon put there by the
internet service provider, but it is not the service. Like Roblee says, it
is just the access through a browser.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

Thank you for your response.

Umm. On my stand-alone computer, the broadband connection goes whenever
anyone switches user. The broadband connection icon has to be clicked to
connect again. Does this indicate something not working properly?

This icon also has to be clicked each time the computer is turned on and a
user account opened - is this what one would expect?

Regards

Cycle.

Broadband is an always-on service. It makes no difference who is logged
on or when or even if the computer is off. The broadband signal is
always present.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

With XP Pro, can a broadband connection be kept open when switching
users via Start/Log Off/Switch User?

 

[Cycle]

Taking this one step at a time.

I turn on my computer, and open a user account.

I then click on an icon labelled "Speedtouch Connection". Speedtouch is the
name of the software/adsl modem supplied by the internet service provider. A
box opens up labelled Speedtouch Dial-up, then an icon showing two monitors
appears in the notification area, which shows "Speed 576.0 Kbps" when the
mouse pointer is hovered over it. The internet connection is now made.

If I turned on the computer, opened a user account, and then immediately
opened Internet Explorer, then I get the message "This page cannot be
displayed". There is no internet connection. I get the internet connection
by clicking on the Speedtouch Connection icon, as described above.

Does this sound all right so far?

If I switch users, there is no automatic internet connection for the new
user, and opening Internet Explorer gives the "This page cannot be
displayed" message: I have to click on the Speedtouch Connection icon to get
an internet connection.

If I switch users again, back to the first user, there is no internet
connection. Opening Internet Explorer gives the message "This page cannot be
displayed". I have to click once more on the Speedtouch Connection icon on
the desktop.

Does it seem that something is wrong here?

I agree with Roblee. If the icon you are referring to is a large blue e,
that is not a broadband icon. That is simply the Internet Explorer icon
that starts the browser. It may have a "branded" icon put there by the
internet service provider, but it is not the service. Like Roblee says, it
is just the access through a browser.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

Thank you for your response.

Umm. On my stand-alone computer, the broadband connection goes whenever
anyone switches user. The broadband connection icon has to be clicked to
connect again. Does this indicate something not working properly?

This icon also has to be clicked each time the computer is turned on and
a user account opened - is this what one would expect?

Regards

Cycle.

Broadband is an always-on service. It makes no difference who is logged
on or when or even if the computer is off. The broadband signal is
always present.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
With XP Pro, can a broadband connection be kept open when switching
users via Start/Log Off/Switch User?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Broadband for cable modems does not require the same steps. You can just
click on the Explorer icon and go unless the ISP has something set up
otherwise. Since I use Comcast and subscribe to MSN9, all I do is click on
the butterfly and go. But even if I didn't click on an Explorer icon, I
would still be connected to the internet.
Antivirus, antispyware, and operating system updates show up whether I am
surfing the net or not, etc.

Yours is a dial up connection. I read your reference to broadband
differently.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

Taking this one step at a time.

I turn on my computer, and open a user account.

I then click on an icon labelled "Speedtouch Connection". Speedtouch is
the name of the software/adsl modem supplied by the internet service
provider. A box opens up labelled Speedtouch Dial-up, then an icon showing
two monitors appears in the notification area, which shows "Speed 576.0
Kbps" when the mouse pointer is hovered over it. The internet connection
is now made.

If I turned on the computer, opened a user account, and then immediately
opened Internet Explorer, then I get the message "This page cannot be
displayed". There is no internet connection. I get the internet connection
by clicking on the Speedtouch Connection icon, as described above.

Does this sound all right so far?

If I switch users, there is no automatic internet connection for the new
user, and opening Internet Explorer gives the "This page cannot be
displayed" message: I have to click on the Speedtouch Connection icon to
get an internet connection.

If I switch users again, back to the first user, there is no internet
connection. Opening Internet Explorer gives the message "This page cannot
be displayed". I have to click once more on the Speedtouch Connection icon
on the desktop.

Does it seem that something is wrong here?

I agree with Roblee. If the icon you are referring to is a large blue e,
that is not a broadband icon. That is simply the Internet Explorer icon
that starts the browser. It may have a "branded" icon put there by the
internet service provider, but it is not the service. Like Roblee says,
it is just the access through a browser.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

Thank you for your response.

Umm. On my stand-alone computer, the broadband connection goes whenever
anyone switches user. The broadband connection icon has to be clicked to
connect again. Does this indicate something not working properly?

This icon also has to be clicked each time the computer is turned on and
a user account opened - is this what one would expect?

Regards

Cycle.


Broadband is an always-on service. It makes no difference who is
logged on or when or even if the computer is off. The broadband signal
is always present.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
With XP Pro, can a broadband connection be kept open when switching
users via Start/Log Off/Switch User?

 

[Guest]

sorry i never used dial-up but if it is pay as you go then i suppose it cuts
your connection automaticaly when you log off or shut down otherwise you
would be paying for a connection that you are not using.

 

[Cycle]

Thank you all for your comments.

From what you have explained to me, there seems to be something happening
that is unusual, and it is not a WinXP matter. I think I must contact my ISP
(Pipex) to see if they can cast some light on the situation. I seem to have
some element of dialup, but the ISP describes the service as "broadband
internet access".

Many thanks for your interest, and for getting me started on sorting this
out.

Cycle.

Broadband for cable modems does not require the same steps. You can just
click on the Explorer icon and go unless the ISP has something set up
otherwise. Since I use Comcast and subscribe to MSN9, all I do is click
on the butterfly and go. But even if I didn't click on an Explorer icon,
I would still be connected to the internet.
Antivirus, antispyware, and operating system updates show up whether I am
surfing the net or not, etc.

Yours is a dial up connection. I read your reference to broadband
differently.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

Taking this one step at a time.

I turn on my computer, and open a user account.

I then click on an icon labelled "Speedtouch Connection". Speedtouch is
the name of the software/adsl modem supplied by the internet service
provider. A box opens up labelled Speedtouch Dial-up, then an icon
showing two monitors appears in the notification area, which shows "Speed
576.0 Kbps" when the mouse pointer is hovered over it. The internet
connection is now made.

If I turned on the computer, opened a user account, and then immediately
opened Internet Explorer, then I get the message "This page cannot be
displayed". There is no internet connection. I get the internet
connection by clicking on the Speedtouch Connection icon, as described
above.

Does this sound all right so far?

If I switch users, there is no automatic internet connection for the new
user, and opening Internet Explorer gives the "This page cannot be
displayed" message: I have to click on the Speedtouch Connection icon to
get an internet connection.

If I switch users again, back to the first user, there is no internet
connection. Opening Internet Explorer gives the message "This page cannot
be displayed". I have to click once more on the Speedtouch Connection
icon on the desktop.

Does it seem that something is wrong here?

Broadband is an always-on service. It makes no difference who is
logged on or when or even if the computer is off. The broadband
signal is always present.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
With XP Pro, can a broadband connection be kept open when switching
users via Start/Log Off/Switch User?

 

[Guest]

You have DSL. The Speedtouch icon sounds like the software that was
installed for the connection to your provider. It has your PPOe ID and
password that your provider assigned to you programmed into it. Your best
bet is to buy a router (Linksys 4 port or whatever brand you like) and
configure the router with the PPOe ID and password. This will keep you
connection alive for you when swiching users. You will not need to use the
Speedtouch software to connect and now you can unistall it. This will give
you back some resources on your PC. Hope that helps.

Taking this one step at a time.

I turn on my computer, and open a user account.

I then click on an icon labelled "Speedtouch Connection". Speedtouch is the
name of the software/adsl modem supplied by the internet service provider. A
box opens up labelled Speedtouch Dial-up, then an icon showing two monitors
appears in the notification area, which shows "Speed 576.0 Kbps" when the
mouse pointer is hovered over it. The internet connection is now made.

If I turned on the computer, opened a user account, and then immediately
opened Internet Explorer, then I get the message "This page cannot be
displayed". There is no internet connection. I get the internet connection
by clicking on the Speedtouch Connection icon, as described above.

Does this sound all right so far?

If I switch users, there is no automatic internet connection for the new
user, and opening Internet Explorer gives the "This page cannot be
displayed" message: I have to click on the Speedtouch Connection icon to get
an internet connection.

If I switch users again, back to the first user, there is no internet
connection. Opening Internet Explorer gives the message "This page cannot be
displayed". I have to click once more on the Speedtouch Connection icon on
the desktop.

Does it seem that something is wrong here?

I agree with Roblee. If the icon you are referring to is a large blue e,
that is not a broadband icon. That is simply the Internet Explorer icon
that starts the browser. It may have a "branded" icon put there by the
internet service provider, but it is not the service. Like Roblee says, it
is just the access through a browser.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)

Thank you for your response.

Umm. On my stand-alone computer, the broadband connection goes whenever
anyone switches user. The broadband connection icon has to be clicked to
connect again. Does this indicate something not working properly?

This icon also has to be clicked each time the computer is turned on and
a user account opened - is this what one would expect?

Regards

Cycle.


Broadband is an always-on service. It makes no difference who is logged
on or when or even if the computer is off. The broadband signal is
always present.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
With XP Pro, can a broadband connection be kept open when switching
users via Start/Log Off/Switch User?

 

[Vernon]

Thank you all for your comments.

From what you have explained to me, there seems to be something happening
that is unusual, and it is not a WinXP matter. I think I must contact my ISP
(Pipex) to see if they can cast some light on the situation. I seem to have
some element of dialup, but the ISP describes the service as "broadband
internet access".

Many thanks for your interest, and for getting me started on sorting this
out.

Cycle.

There seems to be some confusion, perhaps due to national variations in the
use of the word "Broadband".

In the UK, it is generally (though not exclusively) used outside the
technical community as the description for what is, in some other countries,
called DSL and ADSL.

 

[Guest]

Sorry replied to the wrong post. Thought I was replying to you, but managed
to reply to Colin. Here is what I said in case you missed it.
You have DSL. The Speedtouch icon sounds like the software that was
installed for the connection to your provider. It has your PPOe ID and
password that your provider assigned to you programmed into it. Your best
bet is to buy a router (Linksys 4 port or whatever brand you like) and
configure the router with the PPOe ID and password. This will keep you
connection alive for you when swiching users. You will not need to use the
Speedtouch software to connect and now you can unistall it. This will give
you back some resources on your PC. Hope that helps.

 

[Vanguard]

There seems to be some confusion, perhaps due to national variations
in the
use of the word "Broadband".

In the UK, it is generally (though not exclusively) used outside the
technical community as the description for what is, in some other
countries,
called DSL and ADSL.

Broadband simply means providing multiple channels over the same
physical communications medium whether it be by using multiple
frequencies (multiplexing), phase shifting, or whatever. The term
"broadband" is independent of the technology used to transmit and
receive that communication whether it be cable, [a]DSL, ISDN, microwave,
or whatever. This is in contrast to narrow or baseband transmission,
like Ethernet. When mentioning broadband, you should mention the
physical technology used to implement it, like cable, aDSL, microwave,
or whatever, because that usually also implies the transmission
techology used to implement the broadband function. Saying just
"broadband" is like just saying "blue". Broadband what? Blue what?

http://www.hyperdictionary.com/search.aspx?define=broadband
http://www.answers.com/topic/broadband
http://isp.webopedia.com/TERM/B/broadband.html
http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci211706,00.html

My guess is the OP got suckered in installing the ISP's "acceleration"
or support software which is not required. The user could instead
define his own PPPoE connectoid that included the username and password
to authenticate to his aDSL provider. Because of this authentication
handshaking, you can lose your session (but not your connection).
Routers will usually have a keep-alive function to prevent your session
from timing out and having to renegotiate a new authenticated session.
Since the user can define their own PPPoE connectoid, they don't need
some 3rd party software to do it, so all the user really needs is their
own PPPoE connectoid defined under each user account. From a cursory
review of pipex.com's help pages, it looks like they really want to hide
the fact that you can probably dump their software and just define your
own PPPoE connectoid (which makes me wonder what else their software
does).

 

[Cycle]

Thanks for all the help. I am beginning to understand now the difference
between using a modem or using a router.

Regards

Cycle.

 

[Vernon]

Broadband simply means providing multiple channels over the same
physical communications medium whether it be by using multiple
frequencies (multiplexing), phase shifting, or whatever. The term
"broadband" is independent of the technology used to transmit and
receive that communication whether it be cable, [a]DSL, ISDN, microwave,
or whatever. ...........

.....................................

...> Since the user can define their own PPPoE connectoid, they don't need

some 3rd party software to do it, so all the user really needs is their
own PPPoE connectoid defined under each user account. From a cursory
review of pipex.com's help pages, it looks like they really want to hide
the fact that you can probably dump their software and just define your
own PPPoE connectoid (which makes me wonder what else their software
does).

Yes, all that may well be true, but probably over 90% of Internet users
these days (including me) would not have vaguest idea what you are talking
about. We are just ordinary members of the public with little or no
technical knowledge, for whom the word Broadband is only understood as a
generic term meaning "High Speed Internet" and nothing else. I only know
that there are different definitions for ADSL/DSL because I happen to have
friends in other parts of Europe who use those terms.

Don't let that stop you giving explanations, however, because a newsgroup
called "newusers" seems like a good place for all us non-technical people to
get answers to our inevitable problems - as long as we know enough to use a
newsgroup. Just remember, though, that many of us are only simple folk.

regards

Vernon

 

[Vanguard]

Broadband simply means providing multiple channels over the same
physical communications medium whether it be by using multiple
frequencies (multiplexing), phase shifting, or whatever. The term
"broadband" is independent of the technology used to transmit and
receive that communication whether it be cable, [a]DSL, ISDN,
microwave,
or whatever. ...........

....................................

..> Since the user can define their own PPPoE connectoid, they don't
need

some 3rd party software to do it, so all the user really needs is
their
own PPPoE connectoid defined under each user account. From a cursory
review of pipex.com's help pages, it looks like they really want to
hide
the fact that you can probably dump their software and just define
your
own PPPoE connectoid (which makes me wonder what else their software
does).

Yes, all that may well be true, but probably over 90% of Internet
users
these days (including me) would not have vaguest idea what you are
talking
about. We are just ordinary members of the public with little or no
technical knowledge, for whom the word Broadband is only understood as
a
generic term meaning "High Speed Internet" and nothing else. I only
know
that there are different definitions for ADSL/DSL because I happen to
have
friends in other parts of Europe who use those terms.

Don't let that stop you giving explanations, however, because a
newsgroup
called "newusers" seems like a good place for all us non-technical
people to
get answers to our inevitable problems - as long as we know enough to
use a
newsgroup. Just remember, though, that many of us are only simple
folk.

regards

Vernon

But "broadband" without noting whether it was, say, cable, DSL,
microwave, or whatever is the transmission media makes it more difficult
to know where the setup problem lies. Ethernet setup for broadband
cable is different than PPPoE setup for broadband [a]DSL.

But I quite understand what you mean. Most consumers say "microwave" to
mean their "microwave oven", as in "pop it into the microwave".
However, context usually gives a good enough clue as to what they really
meant. There is just too much crap involved with computers to be too
loose in terms. Try talking to users where everything is a "thingy" and
encompasses all possibilities with "or something". "I load this thingy
and click on that thingy and then a thingy shows up. I think the
problem is with the last thingy, or something."

 

[Vernon]

Try talking to users where everything is a "thingy" and
encompasses all possibilities with "or something". "I load this thingy
and click on that thingy and then a thingy shows up. I think the
problem is with the last thingy, or something."

I could not agree with you more, however, that _is_ about the level of
understanding of the vast majority of users now.

When you see advertising in the UK for High Speed internet services, you
only see one descriptive word - "Broadband". As a result people just have
no idea that any of the other terms exist let alone have any understanding
of their meaning. The computer is joined to something on the wall and that
is the end of technical knowledge.

If you are advising a UK user, you would probably be best to assume, unless
they say otherwise, that you are talking to someone who is on an ADSL
connection via a standard domestic telephone line with filters.

 

[Cycle]

A registry-edit, described at kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_modem.htm (section on
Fast User Switching and Internet Connection), to which I was directed, seems
to work well and provides an answer to my original question.

Regards

Cycle


..

 

[Carpe Diem]

Taking this one step at a time.

I turn on my computer, and open a user account.

I then click on an icon labelled "Speedtouch Connection". Speedtouch is the
name of the software/adsl modem supplied by the internet service provider. A
box opens up labelled Speedtouch Dial-up, then an icon showing two monitors
appears in the notification area, which shows "Speed 576.0 Kbps" when the
mouse pointer is hovered over it. The internet connection is now made.

If I turned on the computer, opened a user account, and then immediately
opened Internet Explorer, then I get the message "This page cannot be
displayed". There is no internet connection. I get the internet connection
by clicking on the Speedtouch Connection icon, as described above.

Does this sound all right so far?

If I switch users, there is no automatic internet connection for the new
user, and opening Internet Explorer gives the "This page cannot be
displayed" message: I have to click on the Speedtouch Connection icon to get
an internet connection.

If I switch users again, back to the first user, there is no internet
connection. Opening Internet Explorer gives the message "This page cannot be
displayed". I have to click once more on the Speedtouch Connection icon on
the desktop.

Does it seem that something is wrong here?

This is most likely a PPPoE connection not a true DHCP "always on"
connection.