I reformatted my computer, installed ME, then the XP upgrade. I currently have 2 ISP's, neither are working now. I used my laptop to get the current driver for my Lucent Win Modem, which is supposed to work with XP. The modem dials, does the handshake thing, but then hangs and sounds like a jet plane (which never lands). It never connects, using either ISP. I had this problem before when I upgraded from ME to XP, without doing the reformat. I checked my old post here, and at that time I thought the solution was the right driver - but now that's not solving it. If I go to Con. Panel, Internet Conn., "set up or change your Internet Conn.", there is nothing in the Dial-up settings box. This doesn't make sense to me because if I go to Device Manager, it shows my modem. Also, if I query the modem it shows a bunch of feedback (so I think it at least thinks it working). I'm at a loss here - does anyone have any ideas for me?? Thanks in advance.

When you open My Network Places, click on the left pane "View network connections". You should have a dialup connection for your ISP listed there. If not, you will need to create one or two in this case for a dialup connection. What ISP are you using to connect with? I believe XP Home uses the Internet Connection in place of My Network Places, but configuring should be similiar.

You can setup your internet connection by going to IE> tools> internet options> connections> setup. For you information, next time you need to reinstall WinXP it is not necessary to pre-install ME. All that is needed to have the install disk available. When you start installing XP you will be asked to provide proof of a qualifying upgrade path. At that time supply the path to the ME disk and you will be allowed to install XP.

If I go to Contrl Panel, then Network Connections, there is no ISP listed, just a red "X" over the LAN/HI-speed Internet. So, if I go to "Create a new connection", a New Connection Wizard opens up. When I get to the sect. "How do you want to connect?" I have 3 choices, "Choose from a list of ISPs", or "Set up manually" or "Use the CD from the ISP." I don't have a CD, I don't know how to set it up manually (but I could try), so I choose from the list. In this case I chose Compuserve. I follow the instructions for "Current Member", Compuserve goes through it's whole installation stuff, it gets to the dialing part, sounds like it's connecting...then just hangs. When I used the "Modem Troubleshooter" it said if you hear dialing but it doesn't connect your settings are probably wrong. But I'm not sure which settings. My gut tells me this is where the problem is...something with the settings. Is there a list of settings I should check/change? Thanks for your help!

You can test your modem by putting in a cell phone number and then dialing. If your or a friends cell phone rings you know its not hardware. Most likely you have to configure the logon account and password for your ISP for it to work. Imagine the power if you knew how to internet search

Try the setup manually. Need the number with any prefixes that you dial into. Username and password. It sounds like you don't have the plone cabling connected right. If the modem isn't actuall connected to a working line the modem will go thru the motions but of not be able to connect. Verify you don't have the cable plugged into the TELEPHONE port. If you have already setup the modem look in device manager to verify the modem is working correctly. Under the modem listing in Device manager there should be a tab called diagnostics. Under that tab there is a query button. You should get an OK if the modem is configured right.

OtheHill, When I follow that path, the "New Connection Wizard" opens up (see my post above). Both Earthlink and Compuserve try to connect, but fail. Their icons are on my desktop and they are listed in All Programs, so why isn't one of them listed under Network Connections or in the Dial-up and VPN settings box (CP>Internet Properties>Connections)? It's like Earthlink or Compuserve won't install all the way because they can't connect(?), so I think the questions is, why can't they connect? Just for my knowledge - would it benefit me to reinstall XP again, this time without pre-installing ME? What's an upgrade path?