ICS stop dial-up 2

[betanet]

I am running Win98 on a small network, (3 PCs) I have ICS enabled. ICS now seems to have a mind of its own and dials up the Internet at will. How can I stop this, its driving me crazy.

 

[Win98User]

I would first suspect that you have spyware on your machine or you have "legimate" programmes configured to check for updates etc.

Download SpyBot and scan your machine.

Regards.

 

[betanet]

I don’t think the problem is spyware, but it might be programmes looking for updates, so how do I stop this from happening?

 

[spool]

What computers are trying to connect to the internet? If they are the clients right click the IE icon on your desk top click on properties you will then be in Internet Properties. Click on the Connections Tab and check off Never dial a connection. This should stop the clients from dialing out.

spool

 

[betanet]

All the computers on the network are Win98. The main problem is that one or all the computers keep connecting to the Internet for no apparent reason. I have had this problem before with Win2000, it seems to be a flaw when using ICS. Has anyone come across this before and how did they solve it.

 

[Win98User]

Hi betanet,
Any chance of actually updating what you have done with regards to the above suggestions?

Is there any reason you now mention your previous ICS problems rather than in your original post.

Is there any reason you don't want to divulge exactly which programmes are attempting to access the internet.

Your effort reflects the value you place on sorting the problem.

Regards.

 

[betanet]

Harsh word indeed, win98user, but the crux of the problem is ICS. I had already checked never dial a connection on IE properties on the client machines and it still connects, as for which programmes might be using the Internet for updates, I don’t know. All the machines have so much crap running on them from users downloading anything and everything they feel like, your guess is as good as mine. So do you have any suggestions then or mayhap another rebuke?

 

[spool]

betanet,

Lets try this. One or all of the computers are trying to get out to the internet. Your client computers may be the problem. Take each computer off of the network one at a time and wait till you hear the modem dialing out. If the dialing stops the computer you disconnected is the problem. It may be your host computer that's dailing up the modem and this will be the last computer you test. Let us know what happens and we can go from there.

spool

 

[Win98User]

lol, at least you take it as well as give it ;-)

If the machines are connecting to the internet it is either because there is a connection already established or there is another utility ruuning in the background that has server rights and is establishing the connection.

As a troubleshooting shooting step I would install the free version of ZoneAlarm on one of the machines. This will then alert you to which programmes are attempting to access both the network the net. Then, you can look at the individual application settings/preferences to see what options are available to you.

All the best.

 

[betanet]

Thanks Lads, I'll give both suggestions a try and see what happens, as Arnie says, I'll be back.