Why Does Aol Keep Trying To Dial Out?

[Maico]

I just did a clean install of Win XP Pro and really have not installed a lot of software yet (AOL dial-up, MS Office XP, Iolo System Mechanic, Norton Systemworks Pro 2003, MS Publish It! Platunum 2003, Ad-Aware Pro and Norton Anti-Virus 2003).  I have this computer connected to another computer via NICs and a cross-over cable.  The other computer has the exact same software as the one that is dialing randomly with the exception of MS Publish It! Platunum 2003.  I've checked and turned off all automatic updates in the programs that I can find as well as auto update in Win XP.

Is there a place I can check in Win XP Pro that will tell me what is making my computer dial with out me wanting it to?  Sometimes I leave both computers on and leave the room and come back to find it has connected to the Internet and is just sitting there.  Doesn't look like it is doing anything or has done anything.  I've run both Ad-Aware Pro v6 and Norton Anti-Virus with latest updates and both rigs seem clean of any Trojan or Spyware that I thought might be trying to dial out.

Thanks for any help...

[Josetann]

I'd run msconfig on both pc's, turn off any extra stuff that auto-starts, especially anything that has update in its name.  You mentioned Norton Antivirus, make sure it's auto-update feature is disabled.  Also alot of MS products like to check for updates automatically.  If you still have the problem, disconnect the second PC and see if the problem persists, if not then you know it's that one...if it does then it could still be both (but you know at least the main one is doing it too).