Connect to Internet at startup?

[David Mayerovitch]

I want to connect to my broadband Internet connection automatically whenever
my system starts up.

In XP I did this by creating a shortcut to the connection and placing it in
the startup menu.

However, Vista Home Premium apparently does not allow me to create a
shortcut to an Internet connection. When I right-click on the connection,
the menu offers only Disconnect, Status and Properties. The equivalent menu
in XP included the option to Create Shortcut.

Does anyone know how to launch a connection at startup in Vista? Or is this
another of the simple conveniences that Microsoft has decided to make
impossible?

Thanks.

David

 

[Adam Albright]

I want to connect to my broadband Internet connection automatically whenever
my system starts up.

Well duh, if it isn't already doing that SOMETHING is wrong. Assumes
you really have a working broadband connection, not a dial-up. If you
do, if things are working correctly you are ALWAYS on and Windows
should start up the connection to the Internet automatically without
you doing anything assuming you gave it a good IP address and have a
modem/router, whatever hardware you need properly configured.

In XP I did this by creating a shortcut to the connection and placing it in

Go to Control Panel Network sharing, etc..

What do you see?

If things are working as they should you should see a icon that looks
like a PC with the name of your computer, another icon with the name
of your broadband provider and a third icon that simply says Internet
and has a world globe. There should be a green line connected all
three. If not, something wrong.

Underneath, Network discovered should be on. If you don't see this at
startup after you have successfully booted and are in Windows, use the
left pane to help you find out what's not set up correctly.

You should see a little computer icon in the lower right hand corner
of your desktop. That should ALWAYS be there as long as you are
plugged into the Internet. If you lose your connect this will change.
If you don't connect automatically it won't be there or if something
is wrong it will have a X through it.

 

[Earle Horton]

Broadband that I am familiar with is "always on". What do you have, cable,
DSL, satellite? What kind of Internet connection or service do you have?

Earle

 

[KDE]

and how are you connecting? wifi? ethernet? Cellular?

 

[Nonny]

I want to connect to my broadband Internet connection automatically whenever
my system starts up.

In XP I did this by creating a shortcut to the connection and placing it in
the startup menu.

My computer connects by default WITHOUT having to do anything special.
I suspect that is the case for most people.

 

[Nonny]

roadband that I am familiar with is "always on". What do you have, cable,
DSL, satellite? What kind of Internet connection or service do you have?

Cable and DSL are "always on". Satellite might be different.

 

[David Mayerovitch]

I have a high-speed broadband DSL connection from the phone company. It
appears under Network Connections as "Broadband connection, WAN Miniport
(PPPOE)". There is also a "Local area connection, Unidentified network,
Realtek ... "

Network discovery is On.

At system startup, the icon in the lower right corner of the screen shows
the warning exclamation point. In the Network and Sharing Center, the
diagram shows a broken connection to the Internet.

When I explicitly "Connect to", the connection to the Internet is
established (or when I launch a program that requires an Internet
connection.)

What do I have to do to establish the connection at system startup?

 

[Adam Albright]

I have a high-speed broadband DSL connection from the phone company. It
appears under Network Connections as "Broadband connection, WAN Miniport
(PPPOE)". There is also a "Local area connection, Unidentified network,
Realtek ... "

Network discovery is On.

At system startup, the icon in the lower right corner of the screen shows
the warning exclamation point. In the Network and Sharing Center, the
diagram shows a broken connection to the Internet.

When I explicitly "Connect to", the connection to the Internet is
established (or when I launch a program that requires an Internet
connection.)

What do I have to do to establish the connection at system startup?

First be sure the settings/connections are as the phone company
expects them. If you see unidentified anything, that can spell
trouble. There should be no need for you to connect to. That should be
automatically handled behind the scenes as the computer boots up and
shortly after it enter Windows. When you see an exclamation point
and/or a broken Network diagram that's a telltale sign something isn't
right.

I haven't used a phone company connection for years. However I do use
a high speed cable modem and I've seem similar things. Rarely the
cable company without notice will switch the IP address or do
something behind the scenes that can mess up the connection and I'll
see similar indications to what you just said.

Sometimes you can ask Vista to repair itself. There's a option
somewhere in Network connections that can sometimes repair what's
broken with your Internet connection. If that doesn't do it and you're
sure everything is as it should be according to your ISP then I would
have them walk you through the steps to set up a new connection.
That's what you're paying for.

 

[David Mayerovitch]

No. Input comes from the phone jack in the wall to a phone jack in the
modem. An Ethernet cable connects modem to computer.

 

[Mark]

Try this using "Task Sceduler":

1. Remove the program from the Startup folder or the Run registry key
2. Launch the Task Scheduler e.g. Start Menu ¨ All Programs ¨ Accessories
¨ System Tools
3. From the Actions panel on the right, select Create Task...
4. Go to the Security Options on the General tab
1. Select an user account with administrative privileges
2. Select the radio button Run only when user is logged on
3. Check the box Run with highest privileges
5. Go to the Triggers tab and click New...
1. In Begin the task, select At log on
2. In the Settings options, select All users
3. In the Advanced Settings options, check the box Enabled
4. Click OK to close the dialog
6. Go to the Actions tab and click New...
1. For Action, select Start a program
2. In the Settings options, browse for the Program/Script you want to
execute on startup
3. Click OK to close the dialog
7. Go to the Settings tab
1. Check the box Run task as soon as possible after a scheduled start is
missed
2. Uncheck the box Stop the task if it runs longer than
8. Make any other desired settings
9. Click OK to save and close the task properties

Mark

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Cable and DSL are "always on". Satellite might be different.

In some locations, there is, or at least used to be, fairly recently,
DSL service available that was dialup, rather than always on.

 

[the wharf rat]

I have a high-speed broadband DSL connection from the phone company. It
appears under Network Connections as "Broadband connection, WAN Miniport
(PPPOE)". There is also a "Local area connection, Unidentified network,
Realtek ... "

Your best bet is to buy a little broadband router - they only cost
twenty or thirty dollars - and set up your network as a simple LAN
connection, The little router will not only deal with all that stupid PPPOE
stuff but increase your security besides.

 

[Hans Bos]

I want to connect to my broadband Internet connection automatically
whenever my system starts up.

In XP I did this by creating a shortcut to the connection and placing it
in the startup menu.

However, Vista Home Premium apparently does not allow me to create a
shortcut to an Internet connection. When I right-click on the connection,
the menu offers only Disconnect, Status and Properties. The equivalent
menu in XP included the option to Create Shortcut.

You can create a shortcut as follows:

Select run from the start menu (or type the windows-key and the R-key at the
same time).
Then type: npa.cpl<enter>

This will start the network control panel.
You can create shortcuts from here.

Hans.

 

[Hans Bos]

You can create a shortcut as follows:

Select run from the start menu (or type the windows-key and the R-key at
the same time).
Then type: npa.cpl<enter>