Dial-up modem or PPPoE option in New Connection Wizard is unavailable (320558)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
This article was previously published under Q320558
Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

If you use the New Connection Wizard to create a new dial-up modem or PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE) connection, you may experience any one or more of the following issues:
  • The Connect using a dial-up modem option in the New Connection Wizard is unavailable (appears dimmed).
  • The Connect using a broadband connection that requires a user name and password option in the New Connection Wizard is unavailable.
Therefore, you cannot create a dial-up modem connection or PPPoE connection to the Internet.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if both the following conditions are true:
  • You upgrade your computer to Microsoft Windows XP from Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition or Microsoft Windows 98.
  • One or both of the following entries in the Windows registry are damaged or contain incorrect settings:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Telephony\Cards\NextID

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Telephony

  • My Location does not appear in the Phone and Modem Options dialog box
For more information about other causes for this problem, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

329441 You cannot create a network connection after you restore Windows XP

RESOLUTION

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order that they are presented.

Method 1

Delete the NextID value in the registry. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  3. Locate and click the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Telephony\Cards

  4. In the right pane of Registry Editor window, click NextID.
  5. On the Edit menu, click Delete.
  6. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
  7. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.
  8. Restart the computer.
  9. Start the New Connection Wizard, and then create a new dial-up modem connection or PPPoE connection.

    If you can create a new dial-up modem connection or PPPoE connection, do not go to the next method. If the issue is not resolved, go to Method 2.

Method 2

Delete the Telephony key in the Windows registry, and then perform an in-place upgrade of Windows XP. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  3. Locate and click the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Telephony

  4. On the Edit menu, click Delete.
  5. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.
  6. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.
  7. Perform an in-place upgrade of Windows XP.

Method 3: Create the area code and other desired settings in Control Panel

Create the area code and other desired settings in Control Panel. If the My Location item has not been created, the wizard should automatically appear on the computer. You may use the New Connection Wizard template to enter the area code and other settings. When you finish the wizard and restart the computer, the Connect using a dial-up modem option is available.

REFERENCES

For more information about how to perform and in-place upgrade of Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

315341 How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP

For more information about how to create a dial-up modem connections in Windows XP, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

305549 How to configure a connection to the Internet in Windows XP Professional

310410 How to configure and use dial-up connections in Windows XP

For more information about how to create a PPPoE connection in Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

283070 How to create a PPPoE connection in Windows XP

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:1/11/2006
Keywords:kbRegistry kbnetwork kbprb kbpubtypekc kbmsccsearch KB320558 kbAudITPRO
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