Dial up

[Wink]

Shortly after booting the WindowsXP system up, usually
within a minute, the dial up box appears. I did not
select Outlook Express or Internet Explorer. I am using
other software like Word or even a game. The Dial Up just
pops up. I'm sure the problem deals with Start Up, but
can't isolate and cure it. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[MGGP]

There could be many reasons:
1) If you use some versions of (Norton, others) anti-virus
software and have instructed the software to auto-update,
it will attempt to do so from time to time.
2) If you are infected with certain types of spyware, it
will attempt to contact the "mother ship" sometimes.

Try this:
1) Use MSCONFIG to temporarily disable certain (or all)
startup items until you can isolate the one causing the
problem. http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/ <-TUTORIAL
2) Make sure your Internet Connection Firewall (or some
other) is activated
3) Make sure you have done all of the Windows Critical
Updates at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
4) Run and use current anti-virus software
5) Run and use current anti-spyware software - both of
these have free versions:
SpyBot
http://www.safer-networking.org/
AdAware
www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
6) Visit these sites:
THE PARASITE FIGHT QUICK FIX PROTOCOL
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

THE PARASITE FIGHT
Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Bugs, Glitches & Stuffups
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive
software
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-
US;827315#appliesto

Spyware and Deceptive Software
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/twc/privacy/spyware.mspx?
gssnb=1

What you should know about spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/spyware.asp


Good Luck !

 

[Gene K]

Shortly after booting the WindowsXP system up, usually
within a minute, the dial up box appears. I did not
select Outlook Express or Internet Explorer. I am using
other software like Word or even a game. The Dial Up just
pops up. I'm sure the problem deals with Start Up, but
can't isolate and cure it. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks.

In Outlook Express: click "Tools"/then click "Options"/under the "General"
Tab, remove checkmark from Box preceding "Send and receive messages at
startup". While there, look at the following sentence [Check for new
messages every -- minutes] to see if it is checkmarked and also at the
options selected if it is checkmarked since you might want to change that
also since it can provide for an automatic connection. I have my setup so
that connections are only established at my bidding and is only sent or
received when I click "Send/Recv".