XP Pro keeps resetting the internet connection

[gsdx]

I recently hooked up my roommate's computer to my router and set him up with Firefox. XP is a bitch, wanting Microsoft's Internet Explorer to be the default browser. The only way we can get Firefox to work is to is to open IE first, then open Firefox, then close IE.

Tonight, we came across a new problem. IE won't/can't connect to the internet. For some reason, it tries dialling, even when broadband doesn't require dial-up.

The biggest problem, though, is that it is inserting a different password that is twice as long as the required password and nothing I do can get rid of it and get the new password installed.

I've removed the broadband connection several times and set it up again. I've gone into advance mode and manually installed the user name and password no less then 5 times, but as soon as I save it and immediately go back into advanced mode, the longer password is reinserted.

I've even clicked off the 'Save Password' box and typed in the password without saving. It still doesn't work and tries dialling.

How do I go about removing the set-up entirely (including the saved password) and starting over from scratch?

 

[gsdx]

UPDATE:

I've tried to set it up again and finally decided to check out the Network Connection.

There isn't one.

I've tried setting it up a new connection through the Connection Wizard and it keeps telling me that it's already set up.

Windows XP is not an easy OS to play around in.

 

[trinket]

To stop IE from attempting to dial out via a dial-up connection, check the "Never Dial A Connection" option (i.e. info here).

What version IE, by the way? 6? 7? Tools --> Internet Options --> Connection.

Also, try setting that IE client homepage to "about:blank" (no quotes) (Tools --> Internet Options --> first General tab, then "use blank" or typing that out nets the same result). That way, when you're launching IE and messing around trying to get your connection working, there's no content to delivery so IE will silently load and sit there, and won't go somewhere until you tell it to, without the dial-up prompt. (If you're using an add-on toolbars they may still try to connect and generate the prompt.)

As far as setting up a network connection, if you're using a router (and I assume you know all this, just sayin'!), you obviously need less setup on the individual PC. For instance you don't need the DSL setup values or any server parameters. If your Ethernet card is connected and configured you can plug in and don't need to stash your broadband settings on the PC. You can plug-in once your PC has detected your Ethernet card (as it should the first time it was ever installed) and configured it and in the perfect world, it should work pretty seamlessly. Check out the first section here for a guide on how it works. I'm wondering if you're trying to introduce another network connection setup layer on the PC that's not needed.

 

[gsdx]

^ There are no internet connections at all in the 'Network Connections' section. It's completely blank.

We've unplugged the modem and plugged it back in, we've unplugged the phone cord from both the router and the computer and plugged them back in, we've 'removed' the ethernet card and rebooted the computer to reinstall the card, and still Windows tells us the connection is already configured and operational.

We can't introduce another internet connection layer when there isn't even one there in the first place.

The initial set-up a few weeks ago was quick and painless. I just plugged in the cord and it was done. Not this time, though.

It has us completely stumped.

 

[trinket]

"You're welcome", BTW, for trying to help.

Anyway, good luck. Hope you get it sorted.

 

[gsdx]

I've tried most of the things you've suggested earlier. I can't do anything tonight. My roommate is playing a game on his computer.

I went through the link you provided and there is an image posted showing Network Connections, and there are two of them. My roommate's computer shows a blank screen when I click on Network Connections even though the Set-Up window tells me it's there.

Tomorrow, my roommate is going to disengage the onboard ethernet card and install an regular ethernet card and try that.

I'll update tomorrow and find out what version of IE it is. I'm pretty certain it hasn't been updated and is the same version installed with XP.

Thanks for your help

 

[gsdx]

Well, we put in a new card. XP found it and set it up. It's running fine, but it still refuses to set up a network connection. As a test, we unplugged the router cord from my roommate's computer and plugged it directly into the laptop. I turned off the wi-fi and a regular connection was made and I surfed the net just fine.

There is a light on the plug-in attachment which flashes with internet activity. It was flashing. We immediately unplugged the cord and plugged it back into the desktop tower. The flashing stopped.

XP still insists that the connection is there, but it isn't and we can't get it there.

Could it be that it is an unregistered copy of XP? Does Microsoft snoop around looking for improper connections?