Error: Access number engaged or busy
The busy signal is an engaged tone. It is the same as if you were calling someone with your normal telephone line and they were already on the phone.
In order to fix this problem, please work through the following steps:
Check your PC's date and time settings
Windows XP and below:
1. Double-click on your PC's clock, usually located on the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
2. Check that the date and time are set correctly
3. Click the Time Zone tab and select the correct time zone (GMT, Greenwich Mean Time)
4. Click on OK.
Windows Vista users:
1. Click on your PC's clock, usually located on the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
2. Click Change time and date settings ...
3. Check that the date and time are correct.
4. Check that the time zone is correct (GMT, Greenwich Mean Time).
5. Click OK.
Are you using the most suitable access number?
Dial the number using a phone handset
Using the phone handset, dial the AOL access number. If you hear an engaged tone or an operator message, please contact your telecoms provider.
Perform a HyperTerminal test
You can run a HyperTerminal test to ensure that your modem is working correctly. Before you begin, please ensure that your phone line is free and the modem cable is connected.
Note: If HyperTerminal is not installed on your computer, please contact your computer vendor or manufacturer for advice on installing it.
To run the HyperTerminal test, take the following steps:
1. Click Start and select Run.
2. In the Run box, type hypertrm and click OK.
Note: If the message 'File Not Found' is displayed, please check the spelling. If HyperTerminal still does not open, contact your computer vendor for further troubleshooting.
3. Type Test and click OK.
4. In the drop-down list labelled Connect using, select the modem's COM port and click OK.
Note: See below for details on how to check which COM port your modem uses.
5. In the Bits per second drop-down list, select 57600 and then click OK.
6. Type atz and press Enter. The word OK should be displayed.
7. Type atx1dt08089944002 and press Enter again. If the HyperTerminal test is successful, the word Login will be displayed. See below for other possible results.
Checking the modem's COM port
To check which COM port your modem uses, take the following steps:
1. Click Start and select Control Panel.
Windows 98, Me and 2000 users: Click Start, and then select Settings and Control Panel.
2. Double-click Phone and Modem Options.
3. Select the Modems tab. The COM port the modem connects with is listed here.
HyperTerminal test results
If the test is successful, the word Login will be displayed in the HyperTerminal window. Other possible HyperTerminal results are as follows:
-- No Carrier: If this message is displayed, please check that the phone line is free and the modem is connected.
-- Blacklisted: If this is displayed, type AT%TCB in the HyperTerminal window and press Enter. If after trying this, you still cannot connect to the internet, please contact your computer vendor for further troubleshooting.
-- No dial tone: This means that there is a problem with the modem because it has been told to blind dial. Please contact your computer vendor for further troubleshooting.
-- No Response: If you see this message, there is a problem with the modem. Please contact your computer vendor for further troubleshooting.
-- Rubbish appearing: If a series of symbols or letters are displayed, this means that there is a problem with the modem. Please contact your computer vendor for further troubleshooting.
Delete and reinstall the AOL software
