When downloading large software files, I get a message saying that the connection has been inactive for 20 minutes and will be disconnected in xx seconds. (1) why is it 'inactive' if it is receiving info? (2) how can I prevent this from happening? I've looked everywhere but cannot find a place to change this time period.

Apparently you're using dial-up?

Change the "Idle time before hanging up" to Never.

or periodically move your mouse/hit a space bar/something to let them know you mean to still be connected as that setting may not work on sw like aol

How do I find "Idle time before hanging up"? I've looked everywhere I can think of.

If you are using IE (you didn't say), open IE then go to:

Tools/Internet Options/Connections/Settings/Advanced.

You will see a box marked "Disconnect if idle for".

It will probably be set for 20 minutes. It can be set to a maximum of 59 minutes.

DerekW

I'm okay until "Advanced". It is dim and I can't click on it.

It shouldn't be. I would be inclined to run IE Repair, see here:

SEE WINDOWS ME INSTRUCTIONS

If it should report any wrong version files then shout back "with the details" and let us know your IE version. Files can usually be found and replaced.

DerekW

I ran the IE repair. When re-booted, it displayed: "Windows could not upgrade the file %1 from %2
%1: %2
Windows could not upgrade one or more system files before starting. Windows may not start or run properly.
If windows fails to start, run SETUP again."

I had to restart it a couple of times to get it up.

The "Advanced" button is still dim. The box "Use a proxy server for this connection (These settings will not apply to other connections)." is not checked. I checked it and the "Advanced" was then bright and I clicked it. There is no box marked "Disconnect if idle for". I cancelled out, making no changes.

My IE is version 6.0.2800.1106 with updates SP1 thru Q916281

Lets make sure we've got this exactly right. More correctly I should have said:

Tools/Internet Options/Connections tab/Settings button/Advanced button.

This should have brought up "Advanced Dial-Up screen", which contains the setting I mentioned.

You shouldn't have had to invoke Proxy Server to get the Advanced button (unless you use one), which is why I thought there might be a problem with IE.

I've never seen those error messages and it's a bit worrying that you had difficulties getting the system back up, so I prefer not to rock too many boats on that.

Not sure where to go now. Your options seem to be:

1. Running virus checker and anti-malware programs such as Ad-Aware. Bit of a long shot if there is some nasty around it might account for the errors.

2. Shut down to DOS and run scanreg /fix which might help if it is a registry problem. I usually say this is quite safe but your machine behaved strangely on that IE Repair....

3. If your reported problem only happened recently then you could run scanreg /restore and choose a date/time just before it happened. My last comment in #2 above applies tho.

4. Re-install IE (easy if you happen to have the full download saved)

5. Overlay Windows (last resort)

Sorry, can't be focussed on this - greyed out Advanced button is unusual.

DerekW

Tools/Internet Options/Connections tab/Settings button brings up "intelos settings". Intelos is the name of my local provider.

1. Running virus checker and anti-malware programs such as Ad-Aware. I have done this, as well as Spy-bot.

2. Shut down to DOS and run scanreg /fix How do I do this?

Thanks for your patience with me.

You go to Start button/Shut Down then choose "Restart in MS-DOS mode".

Sometimes local providers put their name on things, so that's probably why Intelos shows.

No trouble with patience LOL, a lot more trouble coming up with any really convincing ideas on this problem.

DerekW

I had a hang up while on the internet earlier today. It displayed the message: Keane/32 caused error ... user.exe at 0003:000010eb

Also, I'm not sure how to "Restart in MS-DOS mode". I don't recall seeing a DOS mode during boot-up. I'll try it.

The first line in my #10 applies to doing it from Windows (not during bootup). When you've done with DOS you can type exit (hit Return) to restart Windows again.

It is possible to boot to DOS but it is not necessary for the scanreg commands.

I think you meant Kernel32 rather than Keane/32. I'll have a look around but unfortunately Kernel errors are a bit of a minefield - stacks of reasons, so don't hold your breath.

DerekW

Most common error is some file causing an error in kernel32. Yours is the other way about. What little I found tended to point to an IE error - which is where we were going much earlier.

Pity that repair backfired. Makes me think Windows has got screwed up somehow.

DerekW

I still don't understand "You go to Start button/Shut Down then choose "Restart in MS-DOS mode". To my knowledge, I've never been offered such a choice.

Oh cripes, I think it's time I jacked this lark in. That choice isn't available on Win ME (only Win 95/98).

Sorry, I'll see if I can find another way forward.

DerekW

Here's a link which describes how to run the registry fix on Windows ME. It also describes the optimizer too but this is not important in terms of your problem:
SCANREGW /FIX

DerekW

... more than one way to kill the cat. On balance probably the safest way of all is to follow the procedure given by MS below and do this from Safe Mode:

REG CHECKER ME

DerekW