Does anybody know if there are any DUN and/or TCP/IP registry entries that control idle timeouts. My ISP DOES NOT disconnect. I am NOT on AOL or MSN; altho I have used and uninstalled both of them (including going in and deleting all of their drivers, infs and dlls I could find). I have exhausted all options I, or anyone else SO FAR, can think of (update modem drivers, removing network adapters, reinstalling the modem , Clean Boot Troubleshooting procedure, and having my email program [Pegasis Mail] check for mail every 60 seconds, etc). I don't know anything else other than maybe something in the registry could be causing it. I am using STAY LIVE 2000 so I Have enough time to write out this post! I am Running ME with all available critical updates. HP Pavilion 7845. 256RAM. IE6. Any registry tweaks or would be appreciated greatly. Thanx, DocNeilyung

hmm.. i dont know of any registry keys.. but your getting disconnected right? when did it start.. if recently, run a system restore see if that helps, otherwise..try a different phoneline, try a different ISP ( they arent going to tell you if they disconnect or not.... ) reinstall communications, delete ALLLL temp files(using find) and cookies... make a new DUN connection..

http://computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/17128.html

The disconnects are after 20 minutes every time. This is my THIRD ISP. My current ISP (THERIVER)does NOT disconnect. I have already had them check their servers and they tell me the disconnects are on my end somewhere. It is in their best interest to NOT disconnect as any thing over 175hrs/mo I have to pay for. System restore is NOT an option - it has never worked and I have it disabled. The modem drivers are the very latest available for my modem. I had already checked the 17128 forum post and I checked the HP site for MODEM STRING and I went through every one of the responses pertaining to internet connections. The problem did start after an install of FREE AOL but, As I stated above, that has been totally uninstalled including stray DLLs, INFs, VXDs. I was not getting disconnected by THERIVER before the AOL install. Other than registry edits the only thing I haven't tried is reinstalling ME. The problem is not that serious - JUST ANNOYING. Thanks for all the suggestions so far tho. PS: both of theriver techs I have talked to used to work for AOL and they agree that the problem is probably from AOL but they dont know how to fix it yet.

Try this address... there are more registry tips here than you can imagine (and the one you want is here too but i can't find it just now): http://home.aol.com/AXCEL216/

Get RegCleaner (this is not MS RegClean) at http://www.jv16.org/ Use it to see if there are any AOL remnants is your registry; if so, delete them.

Well, I tried RegCleaner; it found three AOL Entries in the Registry. I deleted them AND a couple from EARTHLINK as well as a couple other things I didn't want. That looks like a VERY useful little program!! Unfortunatly that did not cure the problem. I am beginning to think that the Phone Company (QWEST) may be the culprit. I live in a small Southern Arizona town (Tombstone) that has only had internet access for about Five years (if that long). The lines are old and need updating badly. The whole town has to go through a single junction and I have to connect through a town about 16 miles away. Cable is not an option yet. I have also been to the site that Ewen suggested (Hi, Ewen!); I found one modem string so far - It didn't work - but I will keep looking. Once again THANKS EVERYBODY for all the suggestions! I appreciate them very much. Have a nice holiday season!