Microsoft KB Archive/142536

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

No Dial Tone When Attempting to Connect to MSN
Last reviewed: October 23, 1997

Article ID: Q142536

The information in this article applies to:


 * The Microsoft Network versions 1.0, 1.05, 1.2, 1.3, 2.0, 2.5

SUMMARY
When you attempt to connect to MSN, The Microsoft Network, you may receive the following error message:

No dial tone. Please make sure that your modem is connected properly and turned on This article lists steps for troubleshooting this error.

MORE INFORMATION
Check the following items:

 If the modem is an external modem, make sure that it is turned on. Check to see that the modem is correctly connected to the telephone jack. Plug the phone line from the telephone jack into the line jack on the back of the modem (making sure that the line is plugged into the correct jack on the modem if there is more than one jack on the modem). Do not use a line splitter or duplex jack.  Verify that the "Wait for dial tone before dialing" option is enabled. To do so, follow these steps: a. On the MSN Sign In screen, click Settings. b. Click Modem Settings. c. Click the Connection tab. d. Verify that the "Wait for dial tone before dialing" check box is checked. e. Click OK.   Verify that no running programs are holding the modem busy. a. Press the CTRL+ALT+DELETE key combination. b. In the Close Programs dialog box look for any program that may be     trying to use the modem. Click that program, and then click End Task. Repeat until all programs that may be trying to use the modem are no     longer running.  The "No dial tone" message may also be generated if you have automated voice messaging installed. If there is even one message waiting on the telephone, it beeps several times before generating a dial tone. Dial-Up Networking then returns a "No dial tone" message. The resolution is to add three or four commas before the number to be dialed, giving the dialer a chance to bypass the beeps and hear the dial tone.