M
Mark
I have just loaded XP Home SP2 on an older PIII Dell computer. I
reformatted the hard drive, loaded the OS, MS Office and other basic
software needed to read pdf docs and unzip archives, etc. I have
multiple accounts set up on the computer. There is only one account
that has administrator permissions. The others are limited "User"
accounts. I have another machine that has been set up this way since
2002 with very few problems caused by the things that kids do (and
load on) to a computer. That computer also has SP2 installed, but all
the accounts were set up and functioning well long before SP2. After
I set up the dial-up internet connection on the problem computer, I
noticed that one of the two user accounts initiated a connection
immediately at login whether a known program was calling for a
connection or not. I have gotten advice from the newsgroups
suggesting adware or spyware may be the problem. Various cleaners and
detectors discovered nothing and there has been little time or
opportunity for malware to load in since the system has been set up.
I've deleted and re-added computer accounts and dial-up connections
with no change in the condition. I've set up several accounts in
several ways that always end up calling for the same unauthorized
dial-up connection at login. I searched for files that had been
modified or created at the times the dial-up initiated. It looked as
though it might be automatic updates for the OS, or MS Office that may
be calling for the connection, but after switching automatic updates
off, the problem remains. I have played with connection settings in
several test accounts simultaneously. I can set the dial-up
connection settings to "never dial a connection" which stops the
problem, but creates another problem in that IE will not automatically
connect when initiated (which has worked well in the other computer
for years). When either of the other two options are chosen ("dial
whenever network connection is not present" or "always dial my default
connection") the original problem always returns regardless of any
other settings. Also the "Disconnect when connection may no longer be
needed" feature does not work in these accounts. It's as though a
program is calling for continual internet access, though when allowed
to connect, no communication activity shows on the connection icon in
the system tray. My goal is to have internet access for a visitor
that doesn't allow total access to the computer. I tried activating
the old "Guest" account. In the help file its purpose is described
as: "intended for use by someone who has no user account on the
computer. There is no password for the guest account, so the user can
log on quickly to check e-mail or browse the Internet." For some
reason the Guest account is supposed to do all this without being able
to connect to the internet since the system won't allow it permission
to use a dial-up connection. This has turned into a quest! I want a
user account requiring no password allowed to connect to the web when
needed and close when finished. It just shouldn't be this difficult!
reformatted the hard drive, loaded the OS, MS Office and other basic
software needed to read pdf docs and unzip archives, etc. I have
multiple accounts set up on the computer. There is only one account
that has administrator permissions. The others are limited "User"
accounts. I have another machine that has been set up this way since
2002 with very few problems caused by the things that kids do (and
load on) to a computer. That computer also has SP2 installed, but all
the accounts were set up and functioning well long before SP2. After
I set up the dial-up internet connection on the problem computer, I
noticed that one of the two user accounts initiated a connection
immediately at login whether a known program was calling for a
connection or not. I have gotten advice from the newsgroups
suggesting adware or spyware may be the problem. Various cleaners and
detectors discovered nothing and there has been little time or
opportunity for malware to load in since the system has been set up.
I've deleted and re-added computer accounts and dial-up connections
with no change in the condition. I've set up several accounts in
several ways that always end up calling for the same unauthorized
dial-up connection at login. I searched for files that had been
modified or created at the times the dial-up initiated. It looked as
though it might be automatic updates for the OS, or MS Office that may
be calling for the connection, but after switching automatic updates
off, the problem remains. I have played with connection settings in
several test accounts simultaneously. I can set the dial-up
connection settings to "never dial a connection" which stops the
problem, but creates another problem in that IE will not automatically
connect when initiated (which has worked well in the other computer
for years). When either of the other two options are chosen ("dial
whenever network connection is not present" or "always dial my default
connection") the original problem always returns regardless of any
other settings. Also the "Disconnect when connection may no longer be
needed" feature does not work in these accounts. It's as though a
program is calling for continual internet access, though when allowed
to connect, no communication activity shows on the connection icon in
the system tray. My goal is to have internet access for a visitor
that doesn't allow total access to the computer. I tried activating
the old "Guest" account. In the help file its purpose is described
as: "intended for use by someone who has no user account on the
computer. There is no password for the guest account, so the user can
log on quickly to check e-mail or browse the Internet." For some
reason the Guest account is supposed to do all this without being able
to connect to the internet since the system won't allow it permission
to use a dial-up connection. This has turned into a quest! I want a
user account requiring no password allowed to connect to the web when
needed and close when finished. It just shouldn't be this difficult!