My internet connection is dialup not broadband and is subject to the usual little interruptions which make the connection drop out. I have been running similar specification computers on this type of internet connection for approx 6 years. Previously, when the connection dropped out, the connection icon closed in the connections tray and the computer started it's reconnect screen and off we went again.
I've developed a problem or series of problems over the last 5 weeks and the latest in the series is the failure of the icons in the connection tray to close on dropout. I can't close them by menu or control panel either. Ctrl Alt Del brings up Task Manager but there's nothing running except approx 34 processes. Shut down computer doesn't work and hangs on saving settings. A hard reset works.
If I want to close the connection, browser etc myself I can with no problems providing I still have the connection. The computer works fine apart from this latest problem.
I have very little knowledge about computers and have tried to Google for information but am not sure I'm asking the correct questions as I have found very little.
Can anyone help me close the icons and get hold of the redial screen again please?
Am I missing something obvious?
I'd love to solve this problem as I'm sure my computer doesn't appreciate being hard reset as frequently as it has been recently.
Thank you.