Games trying to connect to the internet?

[JmbAbc]

Ever since I had my computer rebuilt, I have several games that whenever I open them up my ISP pops up like it wants to connect to the internet. I cancel that out, and the games go to the main screen, but once you actually try going into the actual game, everything disappears and just goes back to the Windows desktop.

It isn't game related, because they work just fine on a slower, older computer I have in my home.

Could it be a DirectX problem? I have version 9.0c.

A graphics card problem? I have an integrated VIA/S3G KM400 w/31.5 mb memory. --But my other computer has an intergrated graphics card with only 5.5 mb memory and the game works fine.

Please give me some ideas of what I can do, or get done. I'm really at a loss.

For reference, I have a AMD Athlon 2000+ processor, 256RAM, and am using Windows 98.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Force Flow]

Most games have multi-player portions of the game, so they automaticaly look for an active net connection on startup, so you can play online, should you choose to.

[JmbAbc]

Thanks for the reply, but that isn't it. None of my games have multiplayer function. (Simcity 3000 & Tropico).

And even if they did, it wouldn't explain why they try to connect to the internet on this computer only, and not on any others.

What's more, I went into my ISP properties and unclicked the "default connection" box, thinking I could trick the games into thinking I didn't have the internet, but then they wouldn't even open up to the main menus!

I re-checked the box, and now I'm back to square one.

Could it be that my graphics card and modem are installed on the same IRQ? Or whatever? If so, how would I know?

[Force Flow]

No, it has nothing to do with an IRQ conflict.

What is this ISP software you keep mentioning?

What is alerting you to the game's request for internet access?

The game could also be looking for game updates.

Are these games legal copies, or pirated?

[JmbAbc]

My ISP dialer. (ISP=Internet service provider) It pops up whenever I try to start a game like I clicked on its icon, but I didnt. If I'm online the games works fine, if not, it will crash to the desktop after you press play on the main menu.

And of course they are legal copies. The games cost less then $10 each.

Again, this isn't a problem with the game. It isn't looking for any updates. It works fine on other computers, I've tried it on two others, it's just doing it on this one. It's a problem with this computer. Not the game.

Any other ideas?

[Force Flow]

ISP dialer? Are you on dialup?

[JmbAbc]

Yes.

?

[Force Flow]

Are you runnig 98FE or 98SE?

What O/S are you running on the other machines where it works?