Can I remove the SUPANET dial-up software that is embedded in my TIME P.C?

Hi again Ian, I have removed the modem and searched for 'msconfig'. I found several listings on 'start-up' all apparently from Microsoft. I checked the earliest and most suspicious one and it showed 'apdproxy HKLM SOFTWARE'. I tried disabling it but I got a warning message from the Microsoft XP software stating that this action would have serious consequences. All the other 'msconfigs' seemed like genuine Microsoft updates. I am still not able to change from 'Custom' to 'Microsoft' on the 'Set Programme Access and Defaults' screen. Is this another example of the 'Supanet' ISP software controlling and interfering? Many thanks for your time and help.

Tom Derby.
July 2008

Hi again Ian,
Once again many thanks for your excellent reply to my question. I only have the Time Restore Disc but I have not used it. My PC is still using the original Time version of Windows XP Home. I will be trying out your excellent suggestions in the very near future, except for dabbling in the registry which is too risky for me.
Cheers,

Tom Derby.
July 2008

hmmm.....time and tiny were bad but compaq were the worst i have found for 'special' software.
couple of things to check first here, are you using an original restore disk from time or did you get your own XP disk?
have you tried removing the modem?
as i see it, if there are no bios settings it could be that each time you boot, the pc 'sees' the modem and keeps the drivers/software in there, using the original restore disk will install the software no matter what you have changed as it will assume everything is still 'as was'.
the software also appears to be running on start up.
if not already done, go to search, type 'msconfig', let it run and there will be some files show up, the one you need is grey with a red line at the top, sticking up at a slight angle...click on it to open msconfig, go to the end tab 'startup' and click on it.
from here you can stop any progs from auto starting....(actually, your best bet is to stop all except firewall/anti-virus as this will speed boot time up)
you may have to physically go into the registry should all else fail and manually delete the entries....if you have never dabbled in the registry then please take extreme care or find someone that knows the way round.
once in the reg, search for supanet and delete all entries you find.....the problem here could be that the software might not actually use 'supanet' in its name.(hence the need for great care).
also, remove the modem from system properties then reboot.

ian
July 2008

Hi Ian, Many thanks for the reply. I have a basic knowledge of PC's. Believe me this software is not easy to remove without the 'Time' delete code number. I have tried the 'Windows XP' 'Uninstall' option and searched the hard-drive for 'Supanet' software and deleted everything that I found. Apparently Time installed Supanet as the default ISP and embedded it in such a way that it was extremely difficult to remove without this delete code. I have checked-out the BIOS and found nothing to delete. The dial-up modem is still installed but not apparently interfering with the Virgin broadband, which I installed using the Virgin(NTL) CD-Rom. I may have originally mislead you by saying that the 'Supanet' dial-up software was interfering with my broadband instead of saying the 'Supanet ISP software is interfering. I have also tried to change the 'Windows' 'Set Programme Access and Defaults' screen from ' Custom' to 'Microsoft' but it is locked onto 'Custom'. Any further help much appreciated.

Tom Derby.
July 2008

hi Tom....how 'techie' are you?
the software SHOULD be easily removed from the 'add and remove' option in control panel....i say should because some people make the mistake of deleting some apps using the folder rather than the uninstall option, or delete files accidentally.
for the software to interfere, it needs to have been installed, or, the modem may still be in the pc or be part of the mobo (intergrated modem).
there will be a setting in your bios set up to enable/disable on board modem if intergrated or the modem would be easily removed from the pc if an add on card.
when the pc boots, you will see a press XX for bios/set up (XX is usually 'delete', F1 or F2.
once in the bios you will need to check through it until you find the setting for on board modem....i wont try to confuse you with naming various bios names or how they differ with names for things.....when you find it, you will recognise it.
now the important bit, if you need to go into the bios, do not change any other settings apart from the one for the modem, most will make no real difference to the pc, some will cause the system to hang.

ian
July 2008