I have a standalone PC..

I have just upgraded my PC from Window 98 SE to Windows 2000 SP4. The
installation went smoothly, and my PC seemed to work fine except when I
connect to the Internet. I do connect ok. But the modem icon and its
status indicate  constant activity, even when webpage is fully loaded
Downloading of web pages takes ages,  sometimes timing out. Most
inportantly once a webpage is downloaded, i seem unable to open up any
other webpage with  an error message that the browser cannot resolve
the required webpage, eg groups.google.co.uk

I keep getting pop-up messages from messenger service, telling me my
computer is infected and I need to go to some dubious websites like
www.patchupdate.info, or www.cleaning harddrive.com, with ever
increasing 'registry errors'. Basic scans from 'Spyhunter'  and
'Adaware', don't show anything amiss.

My configurations include PPP with LCP extensions, software compression
and multilink for single link connections, enabled. Are these
necessary? Transport protocol is TCP/IP. Client for Microsoft Networks
is also enabled..Is that necessary inmy case?  I see that windows has
me down as a member of a workgroup even though there is no other PC
connected to me here.

Is there anything I have missed or not aware of? I have not had a
problem before all the years using  98SE, and I see that configuration
for W2000 appears a lot more involved, with options for CHAPS, PAPS
etc.I have disabled all of these options, but PAPS.

Here are the connection details
Server type                           PPP
Transport                             TCP/IP
Authentication                      PAP
Software Compression          None
PPP Multilink framing           Off
LCP Extensions                   Enabled
Client for Microsoft Networks Enabled

Grateful for any suggestions.

Hi,

You should never be getting those types of messages through Windows
Messenger. You could turn off Messenger, but that's like closing your
eyes just before the car crash. You really need to get a fire wall up
and running properly before things get more haywire than they are already.



               ---==X={}=X==---

Jim Self
AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com

Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Technical Counselor

PA20Pilot wrote:

It's true I have not got a firewall. What interests me is that the
'registry errors' are merely entries in the registry mad eby the
windows 2000 installation which serve no apparent purpose or are not
attached to any particular program. They are not viruses. The pop-ups
are pure adverts designed to scare you. I never received these pop-ups
through Windows 98,SE, but then again there wasn't a windows Messenger
system installed.

Hi again,

The Windows Messenger service was designed with instant communications
among networks as a goal. The spammers and other up to no gooders
quickly found that they could use it their own benefit in one way or
another, the scare tactics you're now seeing is one of them.

You can turn off the service by going into Start/Programs/Administrative
Tools/Component Services/ and clicking on Messenger, then right clicking
on it and setting it to disabled. However, by doing this you're just
bandaiding one of the many holes in your security that's evidenced by
the messages getting through. A properly configured firewall will kill
the messenger as well as most all the other problems you'll probably
encounter by not operating with a firewall.

There are many free firewalls you can download and install. The best way
to get advice on a good one would be to post a new message with that as
a subject line. I run a firewall but lately I'm learning that using a
router might really be the best way to go, don't exactly know why just yet.


               ---==X={}=X==---

Jim Self
AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com

Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Technical Counselor

Seek psychiatric and Twelve-Step help immediately. You are in terminal
denial.

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