The Frankenstein Dial-up Networking connection that breaks its chains and goes stalking off into the Internet's countryside is annoying a lot of us. But that's not surprising, given all the computer-based communications and interactive Internet connections on which we have come to depend.

So here is a checklist of sorts to help you, and anyone else whose Internet connection starts up spontaneously, bring the monster to heel.

Do you have an advanced fax program, one programmed to redial a number to which you want to transmit a document?

At some point the fax program may have encountered a busy signal and may have been unable to complete its mission before you logged off the computer.

Eager to complete its duties it may be trying to launch DUN the second it senses your computer is up and running.

Conclusion? Check the program for any faxes that have not been successfully transmitted. Complete or delete them.

Does your Startup folder contain a program that automatically dials your Internet Service Provider? Get the program out of there.

Along the same lines, have you subscribed to a Web page and configured your system to automatically update the page? You may want to reconsider.

Have you downloaded a program from a newsgroup or used a 3.5-inch floppy whose history you don't know?

You may have introduced a Trojan Horse virus into your system. Network Associates and Symantec offer antivirus programs capable of dealing with Trojan Horses.

Have you installed Microsoft's Personal Web Server 4.0?

Oops. An associated utility, something called the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator, was set to inhabit your Startup folder. Get it out of there.

Did you experiment with a RealAudio beta?

It was good of you to act as an early warning device for bugs in the program, one of which just happened to have a propensity for goading DUN into premature action.

Now, though, it is time to download the final version or, if you aren't enamored of the ability to listen to Internet audio files, uninstall the beta.

Do you have a Lexmark printer?

When you installed the printer's software, through no fault of yours, the installation modified Windows' Registry in a way that also leads your DUN to go into action when some print orders are issued.

Unfortunately, dealing with this bizarre printer-related bug will require you to make adjustments in Windows' Registry.

As a matter of fact, taking additional steps to ensure that your fax program does not kick off an Internet connection, and adjusting Internet Explorer so that it does not inappropriately set off your Internet connection, also will require Registry adjustments.

Because the required adjustments are too extensive to go into here, I will have to refer you to the Microsoft Knowledge Database search engine at http://support.microsoft.com/support/search/c.asp?SPR=

When you get there, proceed to Step 2 and click in the circle next to Specific article ID number.

In Step 3, "My question is," type this article number: Q175312 and click on Go.

You will probably want to print the article once it comes up. That way the instructions will be easier to follow.