My computer *LUVS* WinCustomize too much!

it's a diabolical URL warp crafted by craeonics, most likely.

download Startup Orginizer http://www.metaproducts.com
and you can see what is loading up on bootup into windows, and you can turn it off, it also shows you the path to the offending application so you can deal with it or delete it...

it isn't hardware, so it is either the OS or something loading upon boot.. I know that sounds silly and obvious, but the process of elimination, lock step might seem slow, but turns out to be the fastest most times when trouble shooting.

check for Virus - if not done already, if done, make sure you have newest virus definitions installed and if not check again after updating

check Startup folder

check Browser / Internet Connection configuration / settings

check Download Boost / resume / Manager

luck...

goodmorphing, did IPural answer your question.

Are you leaving the Browser open? That will periodically check for updates and dial up.

Fuzzy's got something, mmm, besides a lot of hair

Turn off auto-update even if that isn't the issue.

Microsoft released some security patchs for IE 6.0 that actually made every system even behind a firewall totally open to the script-kiddies on the net in the last two weeks, one right after the other...

Besides the fact that it could very well auto-update and when you reboot not boot into windows, like oh so many value added features MS tends to hand out freely to all of us paying-subscription-beta-testers ( which is anyone who buys a MS product )...

The WC browser updates the message boards every X minutes.

Thank you IPlural... I just did a virus scan, online and off and came up clean. I have another start-up program I will try to figure out. This happens between reboots, too. I had left the WC browser open once or twice, but the dial-ups continued even though I closed it. I checked the component tray settings and it is still checked at "no internet connection is available" ( First time I lied to my computer about that! ) and also "check every 65537" hours (there was no option for never check). This had happened quite awhile ago, and it stopped. I used to use MSN and I dropped that recently... lots seems messed up since I uninstalled their stuff...

Things are better though. Thanks!

And of course, if all else fails, reformat, reinstall. (I've used this option 3 times since I first installed the RC's of XP way, way back.)

Maybe you have some spyware stuff running. Try using Lavasoft's Ad-Aware. It will detect spyware programs and give you options to remove them.

yep should be runing something for spyware, I run Adware 5.7 here along with Mcafee Spamkiller 4.0 for my email and Norton AV 2003XP for my system/email with Norton IS 2003XP behind my Netgear Firewall...

Though I do have a FireBOX II sitting here doing nothing with the updates, mmmm, wonder what I could get for it?

Well, I use Lavasoft (by the way, they are coming out with a completely new version that will be more than an upgrade.. in a month or two. I think free will still be available). Mostly the problem is gone. When I can get here in time to read that windows advisory that comes before the computer dials, it always says I am requesting information from Wincustomize. I think my computer just wants a new dress....

I have found a solution though... probably a good thing for me to do anyway. When I am done, I lock the internet port with zone alarm... it doesn't let anything dial up until I unlock it! So far it is working!

Thanks everyone!

Well that sounds like it takes care of it pretty much, Zone Alarm will also keep things correct for the most part also. That is as far as being connected goes.

Watch out for the new ie6 updates, wait a week or so before applying them, I should get an advisory in my email when a *real* funtional security patch is released to plug all the holes they installed on everyones computers with the last two updates...
When I do I will definitly post about it, firewall or not, the last two patchs MS sent out around the world opened holes so big and wide that there isn't a firewall, hell, a flame thrower that can touch them.


Probably shoes too, can't get a dress without shoes, and maybe a hand bag, hmmmm...
Hates can be nice for some also...


OBTW : HAPPY NEW YEAR

I used to have the same problem it's a dial up thing... go to your internet properties and tell it not to dial your default connection ever... then it will only dial when you click on the icon to connect... that's how I fixed it...

It sounds like they should call them INsecurity updates!

I told my internet properties not to dial ever, but it doesn't listen to me. Maybe I should check them again since I uninstalled MSN.


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

MSN 8 ?

ugh, now that is one nasty peice of crap ! It is as bad as AOL used to be with window 3 and taking over the computer....