When I go to the "Device Manager" in "System Properties" Windows Me opens up the connection dialogue. After several times I decided to investigate and find the cause. I found that when I go to Device Manager it runs somethning that called "Windows Catalog" and it ask me to connect to the Internet. What I want to know is what is this "Windows Catalog" and why does it wants to connect to the Internet? Doesn't it violates privacy laws? Currently I put it in the recycle bin and I will appreciate if someone explains to me this thing. Thank you.

From time to time my firewall informs me that "Windows Catalog" is preparing to access the internet. I did a search and it has something to do with XP (which I do not have). I used msconfig to stop it from loading at start-up. My computer works fine without it, so I deleted it.

It's because of driver signing. You have an unsigned driver installed and Microsoft is trying to check the driver database and get you a new signed one. If I remember correctly... the first time I ran accross this was when TheGorx had this problem. From a link off of TheGorx's website Common Computer Problems and possible fixes Problem: When I open msinfo32 (or) Device Manager it tries to connect to the internet. It is sucatreg.exe (Windows catalogue registration) knocking on the door out. What is it trying to do and how do I stop it doing it? Possible Solution: Most likely you have an "unsigned" driver that sucatreg.exe is trying to update a driver for or you may have a damaged catalog. In Control Panel, double-click Internet Options, click on the TAB labeled Advanced, scroll down the list to the heading of Security, and Uncheck the option “Check for publisher’s certificate revocation.”, Then click OK. That should fix it.

Thanks, I did what you said, should I bring the catalog back now?

You can try it... but if one of your catalog (CAT) files is broken, you will still be prompted to connect to the net when you open device manager. I'm not quite sure how you would narrow down which one is causing your problem. The Catalog files you are actually using should be listed in: c:\windows\system\Catroot\{big-long-number-letter-folder} You could try renaming all of those one by one then enabling the "Check for publisher's certificate revocation" item in internet options>>advanced... then opening device manager and seeing if it wants to connect to the net... until you figure out which one is causing your problem. Or you can just leave the setting the way it is. I don't think it's hurting much.

Roger that ;)

It has nothing to do with any of that - above. The exe, Sucatreg.exe, WAS a tool only for WIN 98. It allows unregistered drivers to be registered so instalation is easy. The name Sucatreg.exe is being used by a virus that is going around. Thats it - Greg