Modem Attempts to Dial When Windows Starts

ID: Q175312

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 98
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you start Windows, your modem may attempt to connect to your Internet service provider (ISP).


CAUSE

This behavior can occur for any of the following reasons:

  • You use a program that automatically checks for updated components or Web pages.


  • A program that dials your ISP is located in the StartUp folder.


  • Your computer is infected with a Trojan horse virus such as System32.exe that starts when you start your computer. Note that most anti-virus programs do not currently detect or remove Trojan horse viruses.




  • Symantec WinFax or HotFax Message Center is installed on your computer.


  • You are using a Lexmark printer. The Lexmark printer software may add Lexstart.exe to the Run key in the registry to handle print commands that you send to the printer. This can cause Dial-Up Networking to prompt you to dial your ISP.


  • You are using Microsoft Personal Web Server 4.0, and the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MSDTC) service is being loaded from the Windows Registry.


  • You have installed a Beta version of RealAudio 5 on your computer.


  • This behavior can occur if Internet Explorer is configured to connect using a modem, and the following registry key is set to "Y":


    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\OLE EnableRemoteConnect



RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

To resolve this behavior, use one of the following methods:

Configure Program That Dials ISP Not to Start Automatically

Configure the program that automatically checks for updated components or Web pages so that it does not start when Windows 95/98 starts. To do so, refer to the documentation included with the program.

Remove Program That Dials ISP from the StartUp Folder

Remove the program that automatically checks for updated components or Web pages from the StartUp folder. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Right-click Start, and then click Open.


  2. Double-click the Programs folder.


  3. Double-click the Startup folder.


  4. Drag the program that automatically checks for updated components or Web pages from the Startup folder to another folder. This prevents the program from starting when Windows 95/98 starts. To start the program once you move it from the Startup folder, locate and click the program on the Start menu.


Remove System32.exe Trojan Horse Virus

  1. Delete or rename the System32.exe file in the Windows\System folder.


  2. Use Registry Editor to remove the SystemHandler value from the following registry key:


    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run


Modify Symantec WinFax or HotFax Message Center

  1. Close WinFax and the Controller, or close or HotFax Message Center.


  2. Start Registry Editor, and then click Export Registry File on the Registry menu.


  3. In the Save In box, click C:\.


  4. In the File Name box, type "Regold" (without quotation marks), and then click OK.


  5. Change the following registry key to "N":
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\OLE\EnableRemoteConnect


  6. Reconfigure your modem in WinFax or or HotFax Message Center.


You Are Using a Lexmark Printer

Using Registry Editor, remove the Lexstart.exe value from the following registry key:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

MSDTC Service Is Being Loaded from the StartUp Folder

Remove the MSDTC service from the StartUp folder. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar & Start Menu.


  2. On the Start Menu Programs tab, click Remove.


  3. Double-click the StartUp folder.


  4. Click the MSDTC service, and then click Remove.


  5. Click Close, click OK, and then restart your computer.


If you do not want to remove the MSDTC service from the StartUp folder, configure Internet Explorer to connect to your ISP using a local area network (LAN). When you want to connect to the Internet, first connect to your ISP using Dial-Up Networking, and then start Internet Explorer. To configure Internet Explorer to use a LAN, follow these steps:
  1. Right-click the Internet Explorer icon on the desktop, and then click Properties.


  2. Click the Connection tab, click "Connect to the Internet using a local area network," and then click OK.


NOTE: If the MSDTC service is not being loaded from the StartUp folder, remove the Msdtc value from the following registry key:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

RealAudio 5 Beta Is Installed

A Beta release of RealAudio 5 may cause the modem to connect to the ISP. To resolve this issue, remove the Beta version of RealAudio, or upgrade to the release version of the product.

Registry Entry Set to Dial

To resolve this issue, configure Internet Explorer to not connect using a modem, or set the value of the following registry key to "N":

WARNING: Some programs may configure the registry to dial automatically, and altering this registry value may impact these program's functionality.


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\OLE EnableRemoteConnect


MORE INFORMATION

The MSDTC service is installed by Personal Web Server 4.0, and provides cross-server transaction capabilities. MSDTC addresses the challenges of processing transactions over a distributed set of software components that exist on a single computer or network.

The third-party products discussed in this article are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: dialup computer boot boots pro autodial

Keywords : kbenv dun win95 win98
Version : WINDOWS:95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: July 16, 1999
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