As you probably know, there is usually more than one way to perform a task in Windows, regardless of which OS version you are running. A previous tip discussed how you could successfully access an outside line when using dial-up access. You can append a comma or two after the number used to access the outside line (typically this is ‘9′) and the number of your ISP. All the comma does is tell your computer to pause after dialing ‘9′. Otherwise your computer may attempt to dial the number of your ISP when the dial tone is not there yet.

Here is a great tip from a Lockergnome reader. Instead of placing commas after the ‘9,’ use a ‘w’ in place of them. The ‘w’ indicates ‘wait for dial tone.’ Now you won’t have to worry whether you need to use one, two, or three commas before the dial tone is available. All you need is a single letter.