h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I know there's a setting somewhere that will offer the option to AutoDisconnect when all IE windows have been closed. I used to have this set on my PC, but I recently reinstalled things and can't remember how to do it. It's not really a problem for me, but my mother-in-law recently bought a computer and I'm setting her up for Internet access. She can be a bit scatty when it comes to technology - she keeps forgetting to press 'End' when she uses her mobile phone and gets through to the answering service, so we get long messages with nothing much on them. She doesn't know how much she'll be using the Internet, so I'm setting her up with a 'Pay-As-You-Go' account to start off with. I'm worried that she'll run up horrendous phone bills if she keeps forgetting to disconnect.

Can anybody tell me what I have to set?

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=153965

It doesn't always work. It's a good idea to lift the telephone handset and listen for a dial tone after having been on the internet. If you get a modem noise, you've forgotten to disconnect. For scatty parents, make this a part of the routine.

Thanks for the link. Why don't they put that information in the PC help files somewhere? However, I did what they say to do and found that the 'Disconnect when connection may no longer be needed' box was already ticked for my PC, and it doesn't AutoDisconnect. Is there anything else that might work?

Check for ad-ware and spy-ware. It can keep the connection active. Rendering Disconnect on Exit useless.

There are three settings for this ( 1 in the browser software and 2 in the connection manager, they can be mutually exclusive

Go to the advanced options of your dial up settings - IE tools/internet options/connections/dial up settings/advanced dial up settings and turn on the option to disconnect if connection no longer required.

Also see these links:

Don’t forget ******Back up your registry first.******Working in the Registry, if done wrongly, can cripple your machine. If you are inexperienced it is always best to ask for the assistance of somebody more experienced.******

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q153/9/65.asp
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q180/9/48.asp
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q193/5/55.asp
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q256/3/02.ASP

Ooh...

"I'm worried that she'll run up horrendous phone bills if she keeps forgetting to disconnect."

I wouldn't worry if I were you, for two reasons:

1. It's HER phone bill, not yours.
2. She'll do it ONCE. I don't care how "scatty" she pretends to be because she can't bothered listening to you properly, the first time she gets a phone bill for £500 you can bet she damn well will learn to check she's disconnected, quick smart.

Tell her clearly and concisely what she needs to do, twice for good measure, then leave her to it. She's a grownup, isn't she?

H.

In my experience, even scatty people are very canny when it comes to money.

Alternativly just get one of the very many reasonably priced BB deals now going around and you wont have to worry about phone bills at all.

Has the added advantage of being able to use your telephone at the same time and if you are so inclined download loads of stuff (which you have paid for and are entitled to obviously )