Dial-up network intermittent

I've just reinstalled Win98SE, and now my DUN connection doesn't always
start.

If I click Internet Explorer (6) sometimes the pop-up "Dial-up
Connection" appears, sometimes it doesn't. And when it does appear, it
immediately says "Dialing attempt 1, Dialing... Failed to connect to
remote computer. Unable to establish connection"

It makes no attempt to access the modem, the modem doesn't click, and
there's nothing in the modem log file.

I've tried installing "Dial-up Networking 1.4 Update for Windows 98SE"
and it makes no difference.

The modem is working OK because control panel -> modems -> diagnostics
does report the usual info stuff.

Anyone got any clues ? I'm having to use one of the computers in our
library to ask this :-(

Thanks.

* First try using Phone Dialer to see if Windows works
WITH your modem properly and the diagnostics are telling
the truth.

* Delete all Dial Up Networking connections in Dial-Up
Networking; then create a new one from scratch, making
sure that the right modem is selected. You might want to
remove all modems from Device Manager first and then
reinstall.

* Then goto Internet Options > Connections and make sure
the connection is set to default; don't use security check
before dailing etc.

"Travis Swift" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:099b01c4ac5b$cf761400$(E-Mail Removed)...
>* First try using Phone Dialer to see if Windows works
> WITH your modem properly and the diagnostics are telling
> the truth.
>
> * Delete all Dial Up Networking connections in Dial-Up
> Networking; then create a new one from scratch, making
> sure that the right modem is selected. You might want to
> remove all modems from Device Manager first and then
> reinstall.
>
> * Then goto Internet Options > Connections and make sure
> the connection is set to default; don't use security check
> before dailing etc.
>
>

agreed Travis ...if you are inclined , you may want to reseat the modem
card also

Haggis wrote:
> "Travis Swift" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:099b01c4ac5b$cf761400$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>* First try using Phone Dialer to see if Windows works
>>WITH your modem properly and the diagnostics are telling
>>the truth.
>>
>>* Delete all Dial Up Networking connections in Dial-Up
>>Networking; then create a new one from scratch, making
>>sure that the right modem is selected. You might want to
>>remove all modems from Device Manager first and then
>>reinstall.
>>
>>* Then goto Internet Options > Connections and make sure
>>the connection is set to default; don't use security check
>>before dailing etc.
>>
>>
>
>
> agreed Travis ...if you are inclined , you may want to reseat the modem
> card also
>
>

Phone dialler works OK

When the system fails to dial out, the phone dialler comes up with an
error message. something like "This telephony device in use by another
program". As far as I can see there is nothing else running.

I have deleted all the dial-up networking connections, and the modem
details. Did a reboot, then added them up again. No joy.

I deleted the dialup adaptor, rebooted, then added a dialup adaptor
again. Still no joy.

The modem is an external modem - I like watching the lights :-(

"Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:7ne9d.137$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Haggis wrote:
>> "Travis Swift" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:099b01c4ac5b$cf761400$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>>* First try using Phone Dialer to see if Windows works
>>>WITH your modem properly and the diagnostics are telling
>>>the truth.
>>>
>>>* Delete all Dial Up Networking connections in Dial-Up
>>>Networking; then create a new one from scratch, making
>>>sure that the right modem is selected. You might want to
>>>remove all modems from Device Manager first and then
>>>reinstall.
>>>
>>>* Then goto Internet Options > Connections and make sure
>>>the connection is set to default; don't use security check
>>>before dailing etc.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> agreed Travis ...if you are inclined , you may want to reseat the modem
>> card also
>
> Phone dialler works OK
>
> When the system fails to dial out, the phone dialler comes up with an
> error message. something like "This telephony device in use by another
> program". As far as I can see there is nothing else running.
>
> I have deleted all the dial-up networking connections, and the modem
> details. Did a reboot, then added them up again. No joy.
>
> I deleted the dialup adaptor, rebooted, then added a dialup adaptor again.
> Still no joy.
>
> The modem is an external modem - I like watching the lights :-(

external ? possibly the initialization string may not be correct(i had a
couple that needed a delay to init before it would work) ....ports settings
ok for the external port ?

Just btw; you don't have a mouse on the serial port do
you? Do the lights on the modem tell you anything about
whether or not the pc is working?

Try this initialization string:
AT&F&C1&D2X
(i think I typed it correctly)

Travis Swift wrote:
> Just btw; you don't have a mouse on the serial port do
> you? Do the lights on the modem tell you anything about
> whether or not the pc is working?
>
> Try this initialization string:
> AT&F&C1&D2X
> (i think I typed it correctly)

I'm sure there is nothing wrong with the modem and the way it is set up.

My mouse is a PS/2 type thing.

I've got 12 COM: ports on this PC and all the various hardware devices
are working OK. The problem is with dial-up networking. It must be a
software problem of some sort because it's not even trying to access the
modem. I can prove that by connecting the COM: port that normally has
the modem on it, to a breakout box, and then to another computer. There
is nothing wrong with the hardware, and as I said, if I reboot and then
just use the Phone Dialler application, it complains that the telephony
device is in use by another program. Somethign somewhere is loading up
an attaching itself to the modem port - I just can't see where and what.

"Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:KOv9d.237$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Travis Swift wrote:
>> Just btw; you don't have a mouse on the serial port do you? Do the lights
>> on the modem tell you anything about whether or not the pc is working?
>>
>> Try this initialization string:
>> AT&F&C1&D2X
>> (i think I typed it correctly)
>
> I'm sure there is nothing wrong with the modem and the way it is set up.
>
> My mouse is a PS/2 type thing.
>
> I've got 12 COM: ports on this PC and all the various hardware devices are
> working OK. The problem is with dial-up networking. It must be a software
> problem of some sort because it's not even trying to access the modem. I
> can prove that by connecting the COM: port that normally has the modem on
> it, to a breakout box, and then to another computer. There is nothing
> wrong with the hardware, and as I said, if I reboot and then just use the
> Phone Dialler application, it complains that the telephony device is in
> use by another program. Somethign somewhere is loading up an attaching
> itself to the modem port - I just can't see where and what.
>

did you do a virus /malware scan with updated definitions ...could be a
parasite trying to access the internet as soon as you boot

Haggis wrote:
> "Mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:KOv9d.237$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>Travis Swift wrote:
>>
>>>Just btw; you don't have a mouse on the serial port do you? Do the lights
>>>on the modem tell you anything about whether or not the pc is working?
>>>
>>>Try this initialization string:
>>>AT&F&C1&D2X
>>>(i think I typed it correctly)
>>
>>I'm sure there is nothing wrong with the modem and the way it is set up.
>>
>>My mouse is a PS/2 type thing.
>>
>>I've got 12 COM: ports on this PC and all the various hardware devices are
>>working OK. The problem is with dial-up networking. It must be a software
>>problem of some sort because it's not even trying to access the modem. I
>>can prove that by connecting the COM: port that normally has the modem on
>>it, to a breakout box, and then to another computer. There is nothing
>>wrong with the hardware, and as I said, if I reboot and then just use the
>>Phone Dialler application, it complains that the telephony device is in
>>use by another program. Somethign somewhere is loading up an attaching
>>itself to the modem port - I just can't see where and what.
>>
>
>
> did you do a virus /malware scan with updated definitions ...could be a
> parasite trying to access the internet as soon as you boot
>
>

That thought crossed my mind, but this is a clean install on a low level
formatted disc, and I've only put in the Microsoft Windows 98, and
Office 2000 CDs. But you are right, I should install some anti-virus
software and run a check soon.

Mike wrote:
> I've just reinstalled Win98SE, and now my DUN connection doesn't always
> start.
>
> If I click Internet Explorer (6) sometimes the pop-up "Dial-up
> Connection" appears, sometimes it doesn't. And when it does appear, it
> immediately says "Dialing attempt 1, Dialing... Failed to connect to
> remote computer. Unable to establish connection"
>
> It makes no attempt to access the modem, the modem doesn't click, and
> there's nothing in the modem log file.
>
> I've tried installing "Dial-up Networking 1.4 Update for Windows 98SE"
> and it makes no difference.
>
> The modem is working OK because control panel -> modems -> diagnostics
> does report the usual info stuff.
>
> Anyone got any clues ? I'm having to use one of the computers in our
> library to ask this :-(
>
> Thanks.


For the record, I've wiped the hard-drive, re-installed Win98SE and it's
running sweet as a nut.

No idea why it didn't work the first time.

Bloody computers. Don't you just hate them ?!