Modem Attempts to Dial When Windows Starts

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

This behavior can occur for any of the following reasons:

• When you use a program that automatically checks for updated components or Web pages.
• When a program that dials your ISP is located in the StartUp folder.
• If your computer is infected with a Trojan horse virus such as System32.exe that starts when you start your computer. Note that most antivirus programs do not detect or remove Trojan horse viruses.
• If your computer is infected with the Trojan.Win32.Bymer virus.
• If Symantec WinFax or HotFax Message Center is installed on your computer.
• If you are using a Lexmark printer. The Lexmark printer software may add Lexstart.exe to the Run registry key to handle print commands that you send to the printer. This can cause Dial-Up Networking to prompt you to dial your ISP.
• If you are using Microsoft Personal Web Server 4.0, and the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MSDTC) service is loaded from the registry.
• If you have installed a beta version of RealNetworks RealAudio 5 on your computer.
• If Microsoft Internet Explorer is configured to connect by using a modem, and the following registry key is set to Y:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\OLE\EnableRemoteConnect

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.


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

Configure Programs That Dial into Your ISP to Not Start Automatically

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

Remove Programs That Dial into Your ISP from the StartUp Folder

Remove the programs that automatically check for updated components or Web pages from the StartUp folder:

1. Right-click Start, and then click Open.
2. Double-click the Programs folder.
3. Double-click the Startup folder.
4. Drag the programs that automatically check for updated components or Web pages from the Startup folder to another folder. When you do this, the programs are prevented from starting when Windows 95 or Windows 98 starts. To start the program after you move it from the Startup folder, locate and click the program on the Start menu.

How to Remove the System32.exe Trojan Horse Virus

1. Delete or rename the System32.exe file in the Windows\System folder.
2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
3. Locate and click the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
4. In the right pane, right-click the SystemHandler value, and then click Delete.

How to Remove the Trojan.Win32.Bymer Virus

To resolve this issue, remove the Wininit.exe file from the C:\Windows\System folder.

How to Modify Symantec WinFax or HotFax Message Center

1. Close WinFax and the Controller, or close or HotFax Message Center.
2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
3. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File.
4. In the Save In box, click drive C.
5. In the File Name box, type regold, and then click OK.
6. Rename the following registry key as N:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\OLE\EnableRemoteConnect
   To rename the EnableRemoteConnect registry key as N, right-click the EnableRemoteConnect registry key, click Rename, and then type N.
7. Reconfigure your modem in WinFax or HotFax Message Center.

How to Modify a Lexmark Printer

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
2. Locate and click the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
3. In the Run registry key, right-click the Lexstart.exe value in the right pane, and then click Delete.

How to Remove the MSDTC Service from the StartUp Folder

To remove the MSDTC service from the StartUp folder:

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 by using a local area network (LAN). When you want to connect to the Internet, first connect to your ISP by using Dial-Up Networking, and then start Internet Explorer. To configure Internet Explorer to use a LAN:

1. Right-click the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. On the Connection tab, click Connect to the Internet using a local area network, and then click OK.

NOTE: If the MSDTC service is not loaded from the StartUp folder, remove the Msdtc value from the registry. To do this:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
2. Locate and click the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
3. In the RunServices registry key, right-click the Msdtc value in the right pane, and then click Delete.

RealAudio 5 Beta Is Installed on Your Computer

If you are using a beta version of RealAudio 5, your modem may automatically connect to your ISP.

To resolve this issue, remove the beta version of RealAudio, or upgrade to the released version of the product.

Registry Entry Is Set to Dial

To resolve this issue, configure Internet Explorer to not connect by using a modem, or set the value in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\OLE\EnableRemoteConnect 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.

To set the value in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\OLE\EnableRemoteConnect registry key to N:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
2. Locate and click the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\OLE\EnableRemoteConnect
3. In the EnableRemoteConnect registry key, right-click the value in the right pane, click Rename, and then type N.

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 that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.