Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

MSN.....ATTACK!

0 helpful
7 replies

by dafunk

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
Windows XP Pro user here. I have been "cleaning house" on my system. While removing files via Windows Components list, I removed MSN. I was prompted that it would not remove my current ISP. Upon removing MSN, I found that my normal ISP dial up screen was missing. I couldn't find a fix, so I removed my ISP and attempted to reinstall it via disk. That disk seems to be having trouble installing on XP! So now I'm left with no ISP and I might have to wait up to two weeks to get an XP version of my ISP's software (which might not even fix the problem?). I know that MS tries to cram MSN down our throats, but this seems silly! Any ideas?

7 replies

by dmiles

Make sure it is Windows XP and not the anti-virus program

You could try using the Internet Connection wizard to try installing MSN from this point,and also you may try using the Microsoft Updates to see if you can download MSN thru this method.
Can their be updated version of MSN that you could use for the time being

by beermonster

Hi,
ISP setup disks REALLY get me riled, branding my IE beyond all recognition.As a result I have NO qualms at all about circumventing their installation process - using their facilities but not having to put up with their bull. What I tend to do is use a 'free' ISP, if you have a paid for service then in the following description just replace the username and password with your own legitimate ones. All an ISP connection disk does (apart from turning your machine into an advertising hoarding) is create a dial up connection to their servers. Browse your ISP's disk, and look for their signup file. This will usually have an .ins extension, but I have seen them with .isp extensions - I've also seen them zipped up with the IE source IE in abranding.cab file. You are looking for a settings file which will contain the phone number, and username \ password, to make the initial connection to their network. Below is a sample from a free isp service provided by a UK supermarket chain -

[Phone]
Dial_As_Is=No
Phone_Number=7576169
Area_Code=0845
Country_Code=44
Country_ID=44

[User]
Name=register@tesco.net
Password=Tesco
Requires_Logon=Yes

Simply create your own dial up connection, using their number and their username \ password. now everytime you dial in you'll get an ip address \ dns address and access to the internet without having to visit any of the ISP's pages at all...

This discussion is closed to new replies.