Configure Outlook following Installation CD failure

RussellH · 24-01-2005, 14:55

An elderly friend has recently installed NTL Broadband on a old Dell Win98 that she had been given. The installation CD failed so I went round to try and help out.

The CD was trying to restart at every boot and then locking up the PC, so I deleted the job from the startup menu & got on to NTL support. A helpful guy talked me through registering the modem via the online screens. Everything went well, and she got Internet access no problem.

However I visited today and noticed that when she tries to start Outlook, it still prompts for a dial up connection (she had originally used a dial up account for email & internet). She can hit cancel, and then happily retrieve email through broadband. But it's an irritation.

I then looked to find the broadband connection in network & dial-up connections so that I could tell Outlook to use that, but there was nothing there. Just the original dial-up account. I am guessing that this is because the CD installation did not complete properly.

Obviously I could use "add a connection", but could anyone tell me what parameters/settings I need to use (the Broadband modem is on the USB port)

Many thanks in advance

Russell

rdhw · 24-01-2005, 15:18

Check the account definitions in Outlook, to see if they specify to use a dial-up account, as these override any settings in Internet Options.

SMHarman · 24-01-2005, 15:29

How is the CM connected by USB or Ethernet? Should not matter but might be helpful.
The connection you need is not a dial up as such, but "use local area network (LAN)"

HD462 · 24-01-2005, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdhw

Check the account definitions in Outlook, to see if they specify to use a dial-up account, as these override any settings in Internet Options.

First off go into Internet options via Control Panel and just check the Connection tabs' setting, it should be set to LAN (as you're now part of ntls network, as they see it). If the dial up settings are still there, tick the button to 'never dial a connection' (as you're now permanently connected). Then click the LAN setting button lower down and make sure 'automatically detect settings is selected'.

Next open Outlook (I'm presuming you mean full Outlook, not Outlook Express, as it's a bit different for each). When in Outlook click the TOOLS menu at the top and choose Email Accounts. On the box that pops up, click 'view or change existing email accounts' then click NEXT.

You should see all the email addresses she has listed, depending how many she has. Click on the first one in the list, then click the CHANGE button on the right. You should see all her account settings filled in, just check they're all right, then click the 'more settings' button, this is where you solve the problem she's having.

Once in the 'mire settings' bit, click on the CONNECTION tab at the top, it's probably set to connect using your modem and the dial up account will be shown in the drop down list below it. Instead of using this setting, click the radio button further up for 'Connect using my Local Area Network (LAN)', then click OK, and back at the other box, click NEXT to finish.

If you have any other email addresses, click on them and choose change, and make the same changes you just made above.

Then it should just check email straight away without trying to dial a connection. You'll need to do it for any other email programs you use. Outlook Express is similar but less complicated, you just click on 'never dial a connection' on the connections tab in each emails accounts settings.

rdhw · 24-01-2005, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD462

click the LAN setting button lower down and make sure 'automatically detect settings is selected'

No - this option should always be unchecked on NTL. Users should only check this option if they are on a corporate network that provides WPAD (web proxy auto discovery) support, which NTL does not. The effect of checking this option is potentially to slow down first launch of each Internet Explorer window, as it tries and fails to find a WPAD server.

RussellH · 24-01-2005, 16:31

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback.

Three points, one the connection is on a USB port. Two this is a Windows 98 system, the functions are similar, but the detail is different. Three as the lady is some miles away, I'll need to test your ideas on my next visit. I have home access to an XP machine (Outlook Express) and a W2000 machine (Outlook), but I don't have a W98 system.

On the W98 version of Outlook, I can access Tools|Accounts|Mail|Properties set to get to the tabs General/Servers/Connection/Advanced.

On the Connection tab I can select connect using LAN or Phone Line. If I select phone line, I have two options in the drop down list, both of which relate to diallers installed on the inboard 56K modem. If I select LAN, I still get the dialler automatically starting when I restart Outlook, although I can just cancel it and Outlook is happy then to send and receive messages via the Broadband link.

If I look at Network and Dial-up connections I have only two icons. These related to the two diallers referred to in the above paragraph. I have no LAN icon.

Part of my confusion is because I know that when I had a DSL modem on my W2000 machine attached through the USB port to BT, I had a "dial up" connection (which didn't dial). It was just a tag to use in Outlook. I just selected that connection in Outlook & everything was fine {For info I've now moved to a wireless router therefore my settings are set to LAN}

My problem then is not one of connectivity. Outlook realises that the Broadband connection is there, and uses it. It's just that it still pops up the dialler option, whether configured for Lan or not.

Hope this clarifies things. & thanks for the feedback.

Russell

SMHarman · 24-01-2005, 16:37

An NTL connection does not need to dial in the same way a ADSL one does.

Is there not a never dial option somewhere in those outlook settings.

Also is it Internet Explorer trying to dial, not Outlook Express?

RussellH · 24-01-2005, 16:49

Thanks for confirming the NTL/ADSL difference.

There is a "never dial option" in the Internet settings which is checked.

Yes it is Outlook initiating the dial. I can startup IE and it immediately opens the Home Page without prompting for a connection.

Russell

SMHarman · 24-01-2005, 16:56

Have you looked at your newsgroup settings, was one configured by your original software, is that trying to dial?

RussellH · 24-01-2005, 17:29

I'll try this on my next visit. Thanks. Russell

SMHarman · 24-01-2005, 17:36

Might be worth deleting all mail accounts, newsgroups, directory services etc (this won't delete the mail just the means of getting it) and creating a new NTL mail account.

HD462 · 24-01-2005, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdhw

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD462

click the LAN setting button lower down and make sure 'automatically detect settings is selected'

No - this option should always be unchecked on NTL. Users should only check this option if they are on a corporate network that provides WPAD (web proxy auto discovery) support, which NTL does not. The effect of checking this option is potentially to slow down first launch of each Internet Explorer window, as it tries and fails to find a WPAD server.

Ok, correction noted, although I've always had it that way and never had a problem. The rest is right though about configuring your email. I normally do mine without the disk, to save getting all the other rubbish it puts on your PC (remember the Gearbox software a few yrs ago...yuk! )