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Bizarre dial-up problem

By gbrownlee ·
Greetings:

The system in question is Win. XP. The user has stated that starting 2 months ago, she could no longer access the internet properly. She now has to telephone her ISP internet access number on a telephone, which is connected to the pc modem and wait for the handshaking to begin then use the dial-up window you would normally use on the pc to start a connection. You would then click on connect and let the handshaking start again and then get connected. Previuosly, she was able to get online by opening IE and then by clicking on connect in the dial-up window, just like the rest of us dial-up users do.

I cleaned alot of malicious software from this machine and the user plays online games with it. Somehow, something/or one has made a registry change to cause this problem. (not really all that funny) I do not want to have to reinstall the OS, although that is the only situation that I know of, in which you are presented with the options of having to 1st dial an outside line or direct dialing out. The reason being way too much user installed software to reinstall.

My problem is where in the registry would I find the correct key and what value should it be changed to, to correct the problem.

Your thoughts in this matter are greatly appreciated!

Regards
Greg

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by sgt_shultz In reply to Bizarre dial-up problem

have you considered trying another modem? sounds like the modem can't get the phone line 'off hook' and that is a very common failure mode in my experience...
maybe try a test, go to hyperterminal, open session, confirm you are talking to modem by typing +++ (thress pluses) <enter>
then play with the 'off hook' and 'hang up' buttons in the tool bar. if the modem speaker is on and hooked up you should hear the dial tone when modm takes line off hook.

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by gbrownlee In reply to

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I have already tried different new modems and a known working one.

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by praveenchandar007 In reply to Bizarre dial-up problem

As said earlier it cud be a modem problem. There is a possiblity of a spyware or adware which will prevent the system to dailup any other number. These can be removed using anti-spywares ,so try different anti-spyware/adware.Clearing your internet cache or any other temporary files wont help.

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by gbrownlee In reply to

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I have already cleaned the system with my 4 most reliable programs.( adaware, spybot,spywareblaster and avg)

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by master3bs In reply to Bizarre dial-up problem

Try creating a new network connection to the ISP. Doublecheck all properties including the advanced TCP/IP settings. Make sure it is using Client for Microsoft Networks, a modem adapter and a TCP/IP protocol and nothing else.

What specifically makes you think it is a registry change?

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by gbrownlee In reply to

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I've already been there. Thanks anyways.

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by jkaras In reply to Bizarre dial-up problem

I dont know Xp as well as 98 but when I had to troubleshoot dial up accounts from a call center we used to uninstall the communications folder to clear out any TCP/IP conflict, winsock error. We would then re-install the folder, reload the most current driver, append an init string found off www.modemhelp.net, make sure there wasnt any ghost modems in device mgr, create a new dial up connection complete with dns no#s and any commas for call waiting etc... We would also double check that there wasnt anything appended to the TCP/IP protocol like AOL. Try the connection record the error, check in task mgr if the RNAPP was running, kill it, reboot and retry.

I take it you hooked a phone into the modem and dialed the ISP? I guess since it failed with multiple modems. Have you just tried making a seperate dialer from IE? Establish connection first, then attempt a browser. Has it failed with anyother browser like Mozilla or Netscape? LAstly I imagine that this is a new pc, not some old hand me down? If it is old certain pc dont meet the minimum requirement for the ISPs, but this seems like some corrupted spyware. Save yourself a lot of headache and wipe it, save what she needs and put it back on. People say all kinds of things to save face so I wouldnt trust their word. Have you contacted their ISP?

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by gbrownlee In reply to

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Thankyou for your thoughts. The client does not want to have to or pay for reinstalling all her software. Probably pirated. At the start I suggested a reinstall but..

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by willcomp In reply to Bizarre dial-up problem

I suspect that manual dialing has been enabled. Open Network Connections in Control Panel and select Advanced tab at top. See if Operator Assisted Dialing is checked.

Dalton

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by gbrownlee In reply to

Poster rated this answer.
Sorry, already been there. Thank you for your thoughts

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