Went on my computer tonight and for the first time ever,a voice said after dialling "The phone line is busy,to use ring back press five ".I thought this was for ordinary phones ? I closed down then tried again .The same thing happenend again,then it said "error 676" The phone line is busy. Then it said Error 678.The remote computer did not respond.For further assistance search Help & Support center for this error number. I disconnected then tried again & everything was o.k. Why did this happen ? and what does it mean. I am a new computer user so please excuse my ignorance.

It's OK - the number you dial to get your ISP connection just connects to a 'pool' of modems that allow you to connect to the Net. If they're all busy, then you will get the equivalent of an 'engaged' signal.

The error codes you're getting - 676, 678 - are just telling you what you already know - the line's busy! Basically, your ISP hasn't got enough modems to provide connections to all of it's users when this happens.

Joe

Originally posted by JoeP
It's OK - the number you dial to get your ISP connection just connects to a 'pool' of modems that allow you to connect to the Net. If they're all busy, then you will get the equivalent of an 'engaged' signal.

The error codes you're getting - 676, 678 - are just telling you what you already know - the line's busy! Basically, your ISP hasn't got enough modems to provide connections to all of it's users when this happens.

Joe

What exactly does ISP stand for ?

Internet Service Provider :)

AOL,Tiscali, BT etc etc

Oops!

ISP = Internet Service Provider - the people who you pay to connect to the Net.

Just another of those TLAs (Three Letter Acronymns) that we ITPs (Information Technology Professionals) like to bandy around. :)

Joe

Originally posted by vidster
Internet Service Provider :)

AOL,Tiscali, BT etc etc

:blush: Thanks, wondered where you were vidster

Thanks everyone.I wondered what ISP meant myself. Of course my ISP is B.T. Yahoo pay as you go.I cant beleive how quick I get replies from you "Professors".Good job I didnt ring "The Technical Helpline" at B.T. as it always goes to India.I feel so confident with the Computer part of the Forum.Every time I ask a question,I always get helped .Thank you once again.

Originally posted by pattricia
Good job I didnt ring "The Technical Helpline" at B.T. as it always goes to India.I feel so confident with the Computer part of the Forum.

And they'd have probably told you they don't support the particular version of Windows you're using and that you need to go out and spend more money on a new version and that will fix it. :wink:

http://www.phonelosers.org/tech_support.html

speaking of tech support ;)

dont believe i forgot this one

http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/cs_stuptech.shtml

Originally posted by yosser_huges
http://www.phonelosers.org/tech_support.html

speaking of tech support ;)

dont believe i forgot this one

http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/cs_stuptech.shtml

Just had a look at that link:D


A year after I retired I went back to the company 2 days a week to do some work which entailed the use of various data bases within the firm.
I had for many years used a networked pc for this task.
However this time I was given a laptop (it took the IT department over 2 WEEKS to issue me with an account/password...but hey I was getting paid more per hour than as a full timer)
So I get this laptop........ which I couldn't use because the programs I needed weren't installed..although IT had been told what to install.
Wait another week then had to collect the laptop from the bowels of the building.

However there are stupid IT customers too

Plug the laptop cable into the hole in the wall and at last away we go!
After an hour I had to go to the library to look up some info which took an hour or so.
Got back to my desk.
Dead laptop.
Couldn't revive it so phoned IT.
IT: is it plugged in?
Me: of course it is.
IT: can you check?
Me: yup it's plugged in
IT: be round in an hour

IT man arrives
Takes one look and plugs in the power lead.
IT: battery's dead
Me: I thought that was the power lead
IT: no that's the network cable
I grovelled

I probably feature on a "dumb IT customer website"

Tech support staff usually think their customers are a bit dim anyway, you'd have to be to contact most of the major ISPs' techies, especially AOhell's, they are the most inept bunch of monkey spackers in the business... In fact I've seen monkeys with more technical nounce...