Cannot Connect to Internet Using MSN as Service Provider (136833)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q136833

SYMPTOMS

When you try to connect to the Internet using MSN, The Microsoft Network, as your service provider, Windows may dial but be unable to connect to MSN. Or, you may receive on of the following error messages:
Member ID or password wrong
or
Error 691: The Computer you are dialing in to can't established a dial up networking

CAUSE

The Dial-Up Networking connectoids that are created for The Microsoft Network's primary and backup telephone numbers contain incorrect logon information.

This occurs because the Microsoft Plus! for Windows Internet Setup Wizard creates two Dial-Up Networking connectoids if you are accessing the Internet through The Microsoft Network. The wizard cannot enter the correct logon information in the connectoids.

Another possibility is that the *.pwl file on the computer is corrupt.

RESOLUTION

Use either of the following methods to update your logon information in the Dial-Up Networking connectoids for The Microsoft Network:

Method 1 (Recommended)

Use The Microsoft Network icon on the desktop to connect to The Microsoft Network. Doing so synchronizes the logon information in the Dial-Up Networking connectoids with the correct information in The Microsoft Network.

Method 2

Double-click either of the connectoids for The Microsoft Network in the Dial-Up Networking folder, and then change the name and password as follows

User name: MSN/user name
Password: password

where user name is your member ID on The Microsoft Network, and password is your password.

Method 1 automatically enters "MSN/" before your user name. After you add this information using method 2 and connect to The Microsoft Network, the second connectoid is automatically updated.

NOTE: If you do not enter "MSN/" before your user name, you cannot sign in to The Microsoft Network.

Method 3

  1. Click Start, click Find (Search in Windows Me), and then click Files or Folders.
  2. When the Find window comes up type *.pwl in the Named dialog box, and then click Find Now.
  3. Right click each file that is found and rename it to "*.old" (without the quotation marks).
  4. Restart the computer.
  5. When the user name and password field comes up, enter a different user name than the ISP logon user name, do not enter a password, and then click OK.
  6. Once back to desktop create a new connectoid for Dial-Up Networking (DUN) and then make sure that the username and password are correct (for MSN make sure "MSN/username", without the quotes).
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/16/2004
Keywords:kbDialUp kbenv kberrmsg kbprb KB136833
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