How To Set-up A Dial-up Connection On Windows Vista
Setting up a dial-up connection on Windows Vista is nothing like the previous versions. In some ways, it's easier and more user-friendly. Some steps on a manual set-up can be more of a hassle than other versions, but none of these steps are extremely difficult. Before you follow the steps below, plug your telephone cord from the phone jack in the wall into the back of your computer, or into your external modem and connect it to the computer.
1. First, click Start, then Network, then click the Network and Sharing Center link at the top of the page. Click “Set up a connection or network” on the left sidebars under the “Tasks” heading.
2. The Connect to a network Wizard will appear and ask you a series of questions needed to set up the connection. Click Next.
3. Click on “Set up a dial-up connection” so it becomes highlighted.
4. Click Next. In this section, you will input all of the connection information. The first entry is for the “Dial-up phone number, or the access number your ISP gave you. If you don't have one, you can probably find a database of access numbers on your ISP's website.
5. Type the number in the space provided, and do not include the area code unless you need to dial it on your home phone to make a local call.
6. Enter your user name and password. Type them in the correct case to avoid errors connecting. You might also need to include “@.com/net”, etc., after your user name.
7. Next to “Connection Name”, type the name of your ISP, or you whatever name you would like to use as the title of this connection.
8. If there are multiple users on your computer, you will need to check the box below that says “allow other people to use this connection. Otherwise if you are not logged in to the same account that you are currently in, you will not have access to this connection. When you check this box, a user account control box may appear, simply verifying that you meant to check this box and that you wish to continue. You may click continue here and any other time it appears in the course of this set-up procedure.
9. Click Connect. You must now wait while your computer tests the setup. You will get one of two results: a. You will get a message saying the connection was successful, or the connection to the Internet is ready to use. Click close and continue to step 10. If you decide to just stop here, that will be fine, but the following steps are still helpful because it is the only way you will have a shortcut to your dial-up connection on your desktop. A shortcut is the only place where you can get helpful error messages that will tell you why you can't connect, should this happen in the future. b. You will get a message saying that the connection test was unsuccessful. There will be three options given. Click “Setup the connection anyway.” You will then see a window that says “The connection to the Internet is ready to use” Click close and continue to step 10. If you click anything else or accidentally close this window, you will most likely just need to go back to step one and try again.
10. You should automatically be returned to the Network and Sharing Center, unless you accessed the wizard another way. You may see a window asking you to select a network to connect to. Close this window, and Network and Sharing Center should appear. If not, close all the windows and click on Start > Control Panel > (if you're in category view, Network and Internet >) Networking and Sharing Center. Click “Manage network connections” on the left sidebar under “Tasks”.
11. Right-click on the connection you just made and click “Create Shortcut”. You will get a pop-up box saying, “Windows cannot create a shortcut here, would you like to place it on the desktop instead?” Click Yes.
