[Yorkie]

This is my first posting and I hope I have picked the correct list as it could be hardware, software, operating system, virus or .....
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.

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... and my second posting is to say that I have partially solved my own problem.
I managed to kill the icons which enabled me to shut down and restart rather than reboot.
Then tonight, as I was saving open files before restarting, I received a phone call. The connections screen popped up and I was back in action again.
Now all I have to do is figure out how to get this reaction without having to wait for a phone call to wake up the connections screen .....
Thanks to all those who read my first post even if nobody had an answer.

[Yorkie]

... and my second posting is to say that I have partially solved my own problem.
I managed to kill the icons which enabled me to shut down and restart rather than reboot.
Then tonight, as I was saving open files before restarting, I received a phone call. The connections screen popped up and I was back in action again.
Now all I have to do is figure out how to get this reaction without having to wait for a phone call to wake up the connections screen .....
Thanks to all those who read my first post even if nobody had an answer.

[admin]

Have you tried scaniing for viruses and spyware?

see here: -> http://www.geekstogo..._Log-t2852.html

[Yorkie]

I've run computers loaded with Norton, Adaware and Spybot most nights for about 6 years with CWS and Housecall used occasionally. These programs have not found anything and I had not noticed any change in this computer until I had a Norton can't find type error message at startup. I have very limited knowledge about computers so asked the supplier who said that mine made the third machine with that error that week - the other two were their own. Apparently the only solution was to wipe the hard drive.
The supplier reloaded Windows (their disks but the latest version rather than last year's so I am learning the differences) and Norton (my copy purchased 2004) and I loaded the latest versions of my ISP ?drivers, Adaware etc from the internet. The internet dis-connection problem appeared during this time. The supplier said that it was caused by
1 - my ISP's engineering works in the area as they could only access my ISP site using one of the two connection points by the workbench.
2 - the modem was dead so I bought a new modem
3 - loading anti-virus and spyware which was known not to work together and would only cause problems.
4 - there was no problem as the computer had been on test for 8 hours that day and had not dropped out using a broadband connection - I found this hard to believe as I had been asked to collect it 90 minutes after I had delivered it to the supplier and my problem occurs only on drop-out from a dial-up connection. I was then informed that I should stop bothering them with a problem I had created by loading unnecessary programs unless I was prepared to remove them.
I've done a lot of reading since then and have found many sites recommending the combination I have. I did follow the instructions in your link in case I had failed to use the programs properly. I stopped at the HJT point. Thank you for such clear instructions.
I believed I was clean when the supplier wiped the drive and also when I last ran the checks .... but I don't know. It would be nice to be sure as I would hate to be spreading a virus. I also have backup copies of my hard drive which I hoped to reload my files unless they contain a virus too.
I've certainly learned a lot recently and am very grateful for the ideas on this site - I've had many hours of interesting reading. It was such a relief to see the reconnection screen last night and to know the system still can do what it did happily before the problem occured. I would appreciate any further suggestions as I feel this problem is nearly solved.
Thank you.