How to Set-up a Dial-up Connection on Windows XP

If you need to set up a manual dial-up connection on Windows XP, the following simple steps will show you how and why. You will need the following to order to establish a dial-up connection: a land line phone service, a dial-up Internet service subscription with a user name and password, a dial-up access number for your area, and telephone cord to connect from the phone jack in the wall to your computer (or modem connected to your computer).

1. First, click Start, then Click Programs (or All Programs), Click Accessories, then click Communications, then New Connection Wizard. Note: This should work for all versions and layouts of Windows XP, but if for some reason you can't find these options or for some reason this doesn't work, you can get to the New Connection Wizard in other ways. The following are various ways to access the same wizard, but may not show up on your computer because of the selected layout on your computer. If this is the case, just try the next option on the list below:

a. Click Start > Connect to > Show All Connections, then click on “New Connection Wizard”, or “Create a new connection” on the top left corner.

b. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network Connections, then click on “New Connection Wizard”, or “Create a new connection”.

c. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network and Internet Connections, the click “Set up or change your Internet Connection”, then click the “Setup” button on the top right corner of the Internet Options window that appears.

2. The New Connection Wizard will appear and ask you a series of questions needed to set up the connection. Click Next.

3. Choose the first option, “Connect to the Internet”, by clicking the circle to the left of it, moving a dot to that circle. By default, this option is usually already selected.

4. Click Next. Select the second option, “Set up my connection manually”, and click Next.

5. Choose the first option, “Connect using a dial-up modem”, and click Next. Note: If you have more than one modem installed on your computer, the next step will be a window asking which modem you would like to use. If you don't know, just pick one, and you can change it later in the connection properties if necessary. Click Next.

6. Type the name of your ISP, or you can type whatever name you would like to appear as the title of this connection. You can type your name or your location if this is necessary to differentiate from another connection on your computer.

7. Click Next. This section, “Phone Number to Dial”, is where you enter the access number that your ISP gave you or has listed for your area. You can usually find a directory of access numbers on your ISP's website. If there are several numbers available, keep them written down somewhere handy in case you need to change your access number or recreate your connection later. You must also call your phone company to verify that the access numbers are considered local and toll-free for you, to avoid surprise charges after a month of using the Internet. Your ISP cannot verify this for you, so this is your responsibility.

8. Type the number in the “Phone number” space provided, (including the area code if you normally dial it when making a local phone call from your home phone). If you have Call-waiting on your phone line, but wish to disable it while you are connected, enter *70,, in front of the access number. This will keep incoming phone calls from causing you to disconnect while you're online. Click Next.

9. 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. You will need to check remember password if you want to have it automatically saved. The other boxes on this window are your preference. The first check box will allow all users to connect with this user name and password. The second will set this connection as default, meaning any program that needs an Internet connection will prompt you to connect with this connection. Therefore, if this connection is only for backup, uncheck this box.

10. Click Next. You will see a message stating that the connection setup is complete. Check “Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop” if you want an icon of the connection on the desktop, and Click Finish. Close all the windows. Your shortcut should appear on the desktop.

11. Double click the connection shortcut and click “Connect”. When a connection is established, the ISP will verify your user name and password, then a brief message will display saying you are now connected, and the window will disappear. Now all you have to do is open your browser or mail client to view webpages or check your mail.

Note: If for some reason it does not connect, an error message will appear giving an error number and brief explanation for not connecting. Sometimes the message is fairly simple to understand and you can easily fix the problem. You should call your ISP or a local technician to you cannot resolve the issue with a few simple changes. When you call, have the error number and message ready, and your computer turned on in case you are required to check settings or make changes on your computer over the phone.