A keep-alive is anything which keeps your computer on the Internet
when you're not using the computer, thus causing possible congestion
on the phone lines.  Most people who are running keep-alives don't
actually realize it. It can be something as simple as having your
computer check your email at intervals less than 35 minutes, then not
hang up. If you need help with disabling this function (which violates
your contract with us) please phone us. Frank or Monica, 883-5500.

If you'd like to work through it by yourself, here are some things to try:

1. Check your email program to make sure it's not automatically
checking your email more often than every 35 minutes. If you're
using Outlook Express, go to the Tools menu and click Options.
Either un-check the box that says "Check for new messages
every", or change the time to at least 35 min. If you're using
Netscape Communicator 4, click the Edit menu, then pick
Preferences. Click the "+" in front of Mail & Newsgroups unless it's
already a "-". Click the Mail Servers submenu, then the Edit button on
the right. Either un-check the box that says "Check for mail every" or
change the time to at least 35 minutes.

 

2.  Make sure your anti-virus program is up to date.  If you don't have

an anti-virus, or yours is out of date, uninstall the old one and go to

http://www.GRIsoft.com.  In the downloads section, get AVG.  There

is a free version for private parties.

 

3. Check your computer for spyware.  Go to www.Ad-Aware.com and

install Ad-Aware.  It can remove spy programs which will keep sending

information to their hosts about your Internet use.

4. If you have RealPlayer, check to make sure it's not updating
automatically. Open RealPlayer.  Go to the View menu, Preferences,
Content, Channel Settings.  Un-check "enable automatic channel
headline updating".  At least, we think that's it.  Real Player can also
cause your computer to actually dial your modem.

5. Check anything else which will transfer information across the Internet
automatically, without your intervention.  It might be a peer-to-peer file-

sharing program (Kazaa, Blubster, Audio Galaxy, etc.), stock ticker, ICQ,
AOL Instant Messenger, anything with a refreshing banner, a home page
which automatically updates itself, etc.

You can make sure you've disabled all of your keep-alives as follows:
Leave your computer connected to the Internet without using it for
at least 30 minutes.  Either close your browser or leave it on a page that
does not have any activity.  If you then try to use the Internet and you've
been disconnected, you are a success. Our dial-up server will disconnect
you after 30 minutes of inactivity to free up the line for other customers.

 

In Windows ME, double-click on My Computer and Double-click on the Control Panel.  Double-click on Internet Options.  Click the Connections tab.  Move the radio button to "Never Dial a Connection".  Close the Internet Options folder.  Double-click on the Dial-up Networking folder.  Right-click on the Cactus TurboNet icon and tell it to create a shortcut. 

 

In Windows XP, go to Start, Control Panel.  If it says "Switch to Classic View" in the upper left, click on "Switch to Classic View".  Double-click on Internet Options.  Click the Connections tab.  Move the radio button to "Never Dial a Connection".  Close the Internet Options folder.  Double-click on Network Connections.  Right-click on the Cactus TurboNet icon and tell it to create a shortcut.

In Windows XP, to keep autodial, but have it prompt for your username and password, go to the Control Panel.  Switch to Classic View if necessary.  Click the Advanced menu, then Dial-up Preferences.  Under the Autodial tab, check "Always ask me before autodialing".  You'll probably also want to check "Disable autodial while I am logged on".

For really stubborn autodialing, in the Control Panel, click on Administrative Tools, then Services.  Double-click Remote Access Auto Connection Manager.  Click Stop, then set the startup type to Disabled.