Constant connecting to the internet

madvinegar

Hi guys!
I have a very peculiar problem with my PC.
I do not know what started it but from the moment I get into Windows the computer automatically starts dialling to connect to the internet. I press cancel and after 2 seconds it does it again. And again and again! I had to delete my dialup connection to get rid of this!
Every two or three seconds it starts dialling.....

I have not installed any new program.
I have checked and I do not have any xxx-dialer installed or something like this (in any case, when it connects it uses the regular number of my internet provider).
As soon as it connects it does not open internet explorer and log on to some specific website, (because if this happened I could get an idea which program is doing this and alter the options). It just dials my connection, it connects and nothing more...
Every 2 seconds, I tell you, it tries to connect! I am getting mad.
Does anyone have an idea what is going on and where can I find the source of the problem?
I thank you very much in advance for your assistance.

skankinred

I haven't had dialup in so log, I forget how to fix this. But I know there is an option that you can select to automatically dial up a connection for you in the adapter settings and in internet explorer. Any program trying to use the internet will automatically call upon this to dial a connection for you; such as msn messenger which automatically loads with windows.

I'm not sure how to change the adapter settings in Control Panel > Network Connections, but here is how to fix the internet explorer option:
Open Internet explorer. From the drop down menu, go to Tools > Internet Options > Click the Connections Tab. Make sure your dial up service is selected from the Dial-up and Virtual Private Network Settings section and "Never dial a connection" is selected, then press Ok.

Hawk

This is often due to programs trying to obtain updates or other information via the internet. You can tell if its software caused because it'll happen when you load a program, or when you start the computer.
To solve the problem check the settings of any software that connects to the internet to switch off this behaviour, or ensure the program only checks for updates when you’re already online.

As an example, check that Internet Explorer isn't looking for updates:

* From Internet Explorer's Tools menu, choose Internet Options
* Select the Advanced tab. Make sure that 'Automatically check for Internet Explorer updates' isn’t ticked.

If changing software settings doesn't help, there might be something else causing your dial-up connection to start when XP loads.
Assuming your running Win XP.

Autodial

If you have autodial turned on, your computer will try to connect whenever a program tells it to. To switch this off:

* From the Start menu, select Control Panel
* From the Network and Internet Connections category, choose Network Connections
* In the Advanced tab, click Dial up preferences and select the Autodial tab.
* Uncheck the box labeled ‘Enable Autodial by location’, then tick 'Always ask me before autodialling' and 'Disable autodial when I am logged on'
* Click OK.

This will address the symptoms, but if you'd rather tackle the cause of the problem, you'll need to find out what programs are trying to dial out. The best place to start is to find out what programs are loading when Windows starts.

* From the Start menu, click Run
* Type msconfig then click OK: MSconfig will load
* Click the Startup tab and tick Disable all
* Restart your computer.

If that fixes the problem, you can enable your startup programs one at a time until you find out which program is the culprit. Then check the program for settings that will stop it dialing out.

You'll also find your startup programs under
Documents and Settings\[YourUserName]\Start Menu\Programs or
on the Start menu: Start > All programs > Startup.
You can drag problem shortcuts onto your desktop or delete them to solve a startup problem in a pinch.

When using msconfig, don't forget to switch back to normal startup:

* From the Start menu, click Run
* Type msconfig and then click OK
* In the General tab select Normal Startup.

If your computer still tries to dial out even with all startup programs disabled, double-check that none of the programs have spontaneously altered their settings, or regenerated a shortcut in the Startup folder. If they have, you may have spyware.
Hope this helps.

madvinegar

Thanks a lot guys. You've been a great help!
Everything is fine now.
Again, I thank you very much for your assistance.

Hawk

Glad we could help MV.
And welcome to Short-Media.

profdlp

madvinegar wrote:

Thanks a lot guys. You've been a great help!
Everything is fine now.
Again, I thank you very much for your assistance.

What was it that fixed the problem?

madvinegar

It was the AutoDial. Box "enable autodial by location" was checked...

CB

It's good that it's not bugging you anymore, but even with auto-dial on, it should only have been trying to connect when a program asked it to.

You might have some spyware that was attempting to use the internet. Get Ad-aware (free) from www.lavasoft.com and scan your system, just to be sure.

bs-of-the-east

Just a thought, a software firewall like zonealarm might help by identifying what program was trying to access the internet. After you clear up the problem you could uninstall it.

madvinegar

I'll give it a try!