KB 57

===Internet software won't keep autodial settings; reverts to 'Connect via LAN' every time.===

Article:57
Created:2000-05-18 00:03:12
Categories:
  E-mail
  Windows 95
  Windows 98
  Internet Starter Kit

Question or Symptom

I have my 'Internet Options' control panel set to "Connect to the Internet using a modem." When I attempt to open up Netscape, it fails to connect, and the setting in the Internet Control Panel reverts to "Connect via a Local Area Network (LAN)." Why? I don't want to have to manually dial up every time. Internet Explorer works with the autodial settings if I attempt to use it before launching Netscape. I'd prefer to use Netscape, though.

Resolution

Technically, this can happen with either Netscape or Internet Explorer. The windows system maintains a bit of data as to which web browser is the 'default' application to use. When that data becomes corrupt, strange things can happen. One symptom is that the current default browser refuses to dial up automatically, even if the Control Panel settings are correct.

The most common way to fix this is to open up the non-default browser on your system. When it asks if you want to make said program 'The default browser application' choose Yes. Then exit that program and go back to your preferred browsing application. Again, when it asks if you want to make said program 'The default browser application' choose Yes.

Quit the browser, check the autodial settings once more

(Start --> Settings --> Control Panel --> Internet Options),

restart, and hopefully it'll all be fixed.