1

I have a notebook with an internal 3G modem (a HUAWEI Mobile Connect) which appears to the system as a dialup modem. When I want to connect to the Internet, I need to open the charms bar, click settings, network, the modem and "connect" to open the dialup dialog on the desktop. When the connection is interrupted for some reason, I need to repeat these steps.

Is there a way to configure Windows 8 to automatically (and preferably silently in the background) connect with this modem at system startup and automatically restore the connection should it get interrupted?

As an operating system which is developed for mobile devices, I would expect it to somehow be able to manage an always-on 3g connection.

4 Answers 4

3

From what I perceived, here are two ways to do it:

  1. You can use Connections tab on Internet Options to specify if you want to Dial whenever a network connection is not present or Always dial default connection.

    internet options

  2. Through batch files, using rasdial for dialing the connection, you could automate dialing. For ease of access you can even try setting a keyboard shortcut to run that batch file.

5
  • Thank you for your answer, but 1) doesn't work. Both settings you suggested don't cause Windows 8 to auto-connect, not even when I try to open a website in the full screen internet explorer. Is there a way to do 2) automatically at system startup? On 7 I would have done that with the autostart folder of the start menu, but this doesn't exist anymore on 8.
    – Philipp
    Oct 30, 2012 at 16:29
  • @Philipp no, it does. I just came across that question here. you can type shell:startup in run for getting to startup folder.
    – Prasanth
    Oct 30, 2012 at 16:43
  • Yeah NO MORE such options on Windows 8. Windows is getting really dumb and hard to use. On Linux You can do literally everything with no problem just have internet to get knowledge...
    – Esamo
    Aug 17, 2015 at 11:40
  • Hello Prashanth this is what it looks like in Windows 8.1 (Using GUI). All 3 options, "Never dial...." etc are blank as you can see in my screenshot. Is there any alternate way to achieve this?
    – learner
    Sep 20, 2015 at 2:35
  • I could do this by following the post here.
    – learner
    Sep 20, 2015 at 4:42
1

Check to see if your aircard or other UMTS dongle has drivers available that implement the Windows 7 Mobile Broadband interface. Windows 7 (and Windows 8) will be able to automatically connect without any extra configuration if such drivers are available. Additionally, Windows would be able to handle advanced functionality, such as SMS and proper signal strength indicators, without the aid of any external application. Please note that this is only applicable for packet-switched connections (GPRS/HSPA). If you are using a circuit-switched connection (CSD/HSCSD), then you will need to use rasdial along with an automating batch script placed in your Startup items folder.

If you're unsure which kind of connection you are using, look at the phone number you are dialing in your current configuration. If it is *99# or some variant (*99***1#, etc.), then this is a packet-switched connection. If you are dialing a traditional dial-up access number (e.g. +18133860056), then it is an circuit-switched data connection.

1

yes it works but here is another workaround by windows task scheduler

http://www.dariancabot.com/2010/11/15/automatically-connect-to-vpn-at-windows-startup/

in task scheduler you can make it repeat after hours or minutes and change behavior, (may need it since usb 3g modems tend to disconnect in laptops to save power)

Another detailed method is here taken from

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/W8ITProPreRel/thread/771eeb9a-77e6-428f-8e23-3433d1421757/

How to setup a Scheduled Task to Trigger on a VPN Disconnect
1. Click Windows8 Start and type Schedule Task (open it under Settings)
2. Click Create Task
3. Apply the following settings in the specified Tabs (italics describes each setting)
General Tab
Name: VPN Redial
For descriptive use, you can use any name you want like My Company VPN Redial....whatever.....
Select: Run whether user is logged on or not
Provided you have a password associated to your login account, this option will prevent the dos window from opening everytime the job runs. If you don't have a password, leave it and  see the notes below these steps.

Triggers Tab
Click New button
To create a new trigger we will use to activate the job when the VPN connect disconnects
Begin the task: On an Event
The job will be triggered by an Application event log entry
Select: Custom
Custom gives us the flexibility of creating a more detailed query
Click New Event Filter... button
Here is where we build the query for the trigger

Click the XML tab
This tab allows us to write our own query (even more flexible)
Check Edit query manually
To start a manual edit
Copy the following query
This query will trigger on an Application Event for RasClient with an EventID of 20226 and error codes 829 (Remote Disconnect), 629 (Client Disconnect). Copy from and including <QueryList> to </QueryList>
<QueryList>
  <Query Id="0" Path="Application">
    <Select Path="Application">*[System[Provider[@Name='RasClient'] and (EventID=20226)]] and *[EventData[Data[4]='829' or '629']]</Select>
  </Query>
</QueryList>
Click OK
Ensure Enabled is checked
Check it if it's not checked to make sure the job will be enabled
Click Ok
Actions Tab

Click New
To create an action to be performed when the job is triggered
Action: Start a program
Selection this option will allow us to start rasdial to reestablish the VPN connection
Program/script: rasdial
Should already be in path so just enter rasdial command

Add arguments (optional): "VPN Name" username password
VPN name is the name you defined for your dialup connection. Example, when you click the network icon in the system tray, the name that's listed for your VPN, make sure you enter it in exactly as displayed. Following the connect would be your username and password. Example, "MY VPN Connection" username password
Click Ok
Conditions Tab (not required unless you are using a laptop)

Uncheck: Stop if the computer switches to battery power
Settings TAB
Enable: If the task fails, restart every: 1 minute
In case there is a temporary issue re-establishing the VPN connection. You can specify whatever value you want instead of 1 minute
Attempt to restart up to: 7 times
Again in case there is a temporary issue re-establishing the VPN connection. You can specify whatever value you want instead of 7 times
Click Ok

Notes
1. Haven't really tested this much but I had configured it last night, woke up this morning to find the Event log showing 4 disconnects, and the job redialed all 4 times, VPN connection was still active.
2. In the General Tab we enabled "Run whether user is logged on or not. This is a non issue since there won't be a VPN connection when you're not logged in. What this option does since we are running a dos (rasdial) command, it prevent a dos window from opening every time the job runs so you won't be distracted if you're in the middle of something. This option only works if you have a password (which you should) associated with your account. If you don't and just allow your computer to boot to desktop, the option won't work. What I've done for people in these situations is created a little VBScript wrapper to launch the dos command to avoid the dos prompt. Not really an issue unless you're anal about it like me, you could simply deal with the Dos window opening up.
3. Again the query checks the event log for a new Entry for RasClient with an event id of 20226 containing error codes 820 or 620. you can add additional error codes by repeating the pattern. Example to also trigger on 222 and 333 you would modify the relevant part of the line as such *[EventData[Data[4]='829' or '629' or '222' or '333']]</Select>

4. I'm checking error codes because I don't want the job to be reconnected if I purposely disconnect the VPN which generates a 631 code under Event ID 20226.

Similar trigger rasdial in windows logon

In triggers>select>new> in "Begin the task"> select At log on > make sure enabled is checked and press ok Done that's it
-1

Click on this link and download the application ReConnect. Worked for me, cheers.

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .