With the release of Windows XP (home and professional), Microsoft included native PPPoE support. To use this, follow these steps which will activate the connection wizard:
- Go to Start->Control Panel
- Then Network & Internet Connections
- Then Network Connections
- Select Create a new Connection
- Click Next
- Select Connect to the Internet then click Next
- Select Set up my connection manually then click Next
- Select Connect using a broadband connection that requires a user name and password then click Next
- Type in your ISP's name then click Next (**See Note Below)
- Enter your user name as provided by your ISP.
Note: You might need to inlude your domain as part of your username. pacbelluser@pacbell.net
- Enter your password, then confirm it
- Select Use this account name
- Select Make this the default Internet connection then click Next
- Select Add a shortcut to this connection to your desktop then click Next
- Hit Connect
- Set your homepage to »www.dslreports.com :)
Note: There have been many cases where Step 9 does not work for people. The Username and Password option is grayed out. At Step 8 click on the Dial-up option and fill that out then start over. (untested, as the above steps worked for me. Thanks to www.carricksolutions.com for this warning)