Symptom
The modem unexpectedly dials out. This may occur at startup, after disconnecting from an Internet service provider, or at other unexpected times.
Solution
An application or control panel setting can trigger an automatic connection to the Internet.
To prevent unexpected behavior, check the following items to be sure they are set up as you desire. Any of these items could cause automatic connection to the Internet:
- An Internet application or its alias is in the Startup Items folder.
How to address: Remove undesired items from the Startup Items folder in the System Folder.
- The TCP/IP control panel is set to always load.
How to address: Open the TCP/IP control panel. Choose User Mode from the Edit menu and make sure Advanced is selected. Click Options. The Options window appears. Be sure the "Load only when needed" checkbox is selected.
- Web Sharing is active.
How to address: Open the Web Sharing control panel. If you use Web Sharing over a dial-up connection, be sure to click the Stop button when you are finished.
- File Sharing over TCP/IP is enabled.
How to address: Open the File Sharing control panel. Look for the setting "Enable File Sharing clients to connect over TCP/IP." Deselect the checkbox for this feature after you finish File Sharing. If you never accept File Sharing connections over your dial-up connection, always leave this unchecked.
- Email application connects to the Internet.
How to address: Go to the preferences panel in your email application. Look for an option such as "automatically check mail," and disable it.
- The Date & Time control panel is set to "Use a Network Time Server".
How to address: To prevent undesired connections, be sure the checkbox for this feature is deselected in the Date & Time control panel.
Note: You can still synchronize manually when you are already connected to the Internet: Open the Date & Time control panel. Click the checkbox to select "Use a Network Time Server". Click the Server Options button. Click the Manually radio button. Click the Set Time Now button. Click OK. Click the checkbox for "Use a Network Time Server" again to leave the feature disabled.
- The Software Update control panel is set to "Update software automatically".
How to address: Open the Software Update control panel. Deselect the checkbox for "Update software automatically".
Note: Alternatively, you can check for updates at a more convenient time by clicking the Schedule button. Set a new time by clicking on the hour, minute and AM/PM indicator and then adjusting with the up/down arrows. Check the day or days you prefer.
- The Remote Access control panel is set to connect automatically.
How to address: To check this, open the Remote Access control panel and click Options. The Options window appears. Click the Protocol tab, then select the PPP protocol. Deselect the checkbox for "Connect automatically when starting TCP/IP applications". Close the Remote Access control panel.
Note: After deselecting this option, you must click "Connect" in the Remote Access control panel or the Remote Access portion of the Control Strip prior to opening your Internet applications.