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Error 731
Error 731: Protocol Not Configured Error
Runtime error 731 is a generic connection error meaning that for an Undetermined reason the computer could not establish a connection. To troubleshoot the problem, we will start with the easiest solutions first.
A: How to Power Cycle Your Computer and Modem
From time to time your computer will run into interruptions during a connection that will leave the computer or modem in an unresolved state. The result is that future connection attempts are compromised. The first procedure when encountering an error is to shutdown your machine in the following manner:
1. Close all running programs.
2. Click on the Windows Start button and select Shut Down.
3. Select "Shut Down the Computer?" and click YES.
4. Once the computer displays the message "It is now safe to Shut off the Computer", turn the power off.
5. If you have an external modem, make sure to turn its power off as well. If there is no on/off switch on the modem, you may need to unplug the modem's power supply.
6. After approximately 30 seconds, turn your computer and modem (if external) back on.
7. Once the computer has finished booting up, try connecting to EarthLink again.
B: Changing WINS Resolution
A common cause of trouble with connections can be an inaccurate or corrupt driver data-base. The following steps will make changes requiring the computer to update this database and replace components if missing.
1. Go to Start. Select Settings, then Control Panels. Double-click Network.
2. Once the network control panel is open with the configuration tab highlighted, double-click TCP/IP->Dialup Adapter to open the properties window.
3. Click the WINS Configuration tab at the top.
4. If WINS Resolution is enabled then disable it, or if it is disabled, then enable it. If Use DHCP Server is selected at the bottom, select Disable WINS Resolution.
5. Click OK the entire way out of the Network Control Panel. Windows will begin updating its driver database and you will be asked to restart the computer. When finished restarting, try connecting again.
C: How to Uninstall and Reinstall Windows 95/98 Dial-Up Networking
DISCLAIMER: You must have your Windows CD available. Also, these instructions assume that the machine being worked on is NOT connected to any other computers via a local area network (LAN), or sharing files or printers with any other machine at your location. Additionally, if any other Dial-Up Networking connections exist, store their information in the Dial-Up Networking folder in My Computer, NOT in the Network Control Panel. If you are unsure, ask your network administrator, or contact Technical Support by phone. These instructions assume you DO NOT have LAN components in your Network Control panel. EarthLink is not responsible for any network components that may be removed besides the required components for a non-LAN connection. To begin, close any active connections, as well as any other programs you may have open on your system. Then from the Windows desktop proceed as follows:
1. Open My Computer.
2. Open Control Panel.
3. Open Network.
Inside the Network control panel will be a list of network components. Any of these Windows system components could be the cause of the connection difficulty. To eliminate any possibility of file corruption, or misconfigured settings, we must completely remove and reinstall these components. To start the uninstall:
1. Highlight the first component in the list, then select Remove.
2. Continue until all components are removed and the list is empty.
3. Click OK.
4. If prompted to restart the System, click NO.
At this point you should be back in Control Panel.
1. Open Add/Remove Programs.
2. Select the Windows Setup tab at the top.
3. Double-click the Communications option.
4. Uncheck Dial-Up Networking.
5. If prompted with a message about Dial-Up Networking being "required by other components", click Yes.
6. Click OK.
7. When back at the Windows Setup tab, click Apply.
8. Double-click Communications again.
9. Recheck Dial-Up Networking.
10. Click OK.
11. When back on the Windows Setup tab, click OK again.
You should now either be prompted for the Windows CD-ROM or the files will copy automatically. If prompted for the Windows CD, insert the CD and click OK. If you are still prompted for it after clicking OK, verify that the drive letter listed in "Copy files from" is your CD-ROM drive.
*IMPORTANT*
If at any time during the File Copy you are given a warning about "Version Conflict" or any message "A file being copied is older", click NO to each and every message you see like that. If it prompts you that the file is not found, either the CD drive letter is incorrect, or you are not using the CD-ROM that was used to install Windows on your computer. When the File Copy is over you should be prompted with the message "System Settings Changed". Click OK. If prompted to restart the computer, click NO. You should now be back in Control Panel. Double-click and open the Network icon. Several of the components you previously removed will have returned.
If TCP/IP is not listed, add it manually:
1. Click Add.
2. Double-click Protocol.
3. Highlight Microsoft on the left.
4. Double-click TCP/IP on the right to add it to the list.
If Client for Microsoft Network is not listed:
1. Click Add.
2. Double-click Client.
3. Highlight Microsoft on the left.
4. Double-click Client for Microsoft Networks on the right to add it to the list.
You should now have at least these three components listed: Client for Microsoft Networks, Dial-Up Adapter, TCP/IP
To ensure that TCP/IP is properly configured:
1. Highlight TCP/IP and select Properties.
2. If given a warning about changing TCP/IP properties, click OK.
3. Under the IP Addresses tab "Obtain an IP address automatically" should be selected.
4. Under the Wins tab, click the "Disable WINS Resolution" option.
5. Under the Gateway tab, remove any installed gateways.
6. Under the DNS tab, click the "Disable DNS" option.
7. Click OK.
To set up the computer's identity:
1. Clicking the Identification tab at the top of the Network properties window.
2. Change the Computer Name. For simplicity, make the name between 4 and 8 characters (letters and numbers only), preferably all lowercase letters. For example: Computer Name: cupofbrew, Workgroup: workgroup, Computer Description: cupofbrew
3. Click OK. If prompted for the Windows CD-ROM, proceed exactly as you did earlier. Refer to the instructions above if you need help.
*IMPORTANT*
If at any time during the File Copy you are given a warning about "Version Conflict" or any message "A file being copied is older", click NO to each and every message. If it prompts you that the file is not found, either the CD drive letter is incorrect, or you are not using the Windows CD-ROM that was used to install Windows or your computer. When complete, you should be prompted to restart. Click YES. If not, close the Control Panel and reboot manually.
When Windows restarts, you may see a dialog box asking for a username and password to login:
1. In Username, enter same name you used for Computer Name in the prior step in lower case. Do NOT enter a password.
2. Click OK. If asked to confirm, click OK. You are now ready to reconnect to the Internet using Windows Dial-Up Networking.
Created On: 11/9/2004 5:18:00 PM
Last Modified On: 6/18/2005 8:17:00 AM
Article ID: 10157
Viewed 5,197 times
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