I have just got a Tiny computer which is also (unfortunately) built by Time and comes with Supanet optimisation. I am very unhappy as I wish to use my current ISP. I have spent £23 calling their helplines to be walked through the deoptimisation procedure described above only to find that the deoptimisation option is not available (there are supposed to be 4 options according to the helpline guys but only 3 appear - i've even had to create extra Supanet accounts and try to deoptimise through those but still can't). This seemed to baffle the guys on the helpline (i've tried twice!!) who refer to their supervisor then give me yet another no. to ring which no one answers. I've tried e-mailing supanet via the contact us route but have got no response. Time/Tiny seem to have made further modifications to the software to make it even harder to get out of this lock-in. Anybody know how to get out of this?

Unfortunately it appears Supanet have changed de optimise routine for TIME PC's.
I have spoken to TIME support twice today (17/05/04) and they don't know how to de optimise modem.
Option to de optimise dialup connection is no longer displayed on account maintenance screen.
Has anyone else experienced this problem and come up with a fix? Failing that if TIME support can't work out how to de optimise I will send PC back and ask for a refund.
Martyn

This solution has been applied on a system with XP.
To uninstall supanet net from your time systems on startup.
1. run regedit
2. search for supanet and delete all strings
3. next search for status.exe (C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Connection Wizard\Status.exe) delete this file
4. exit.
bob's your uncle
let me know if this works for you

SOLUTION THAT WORKS
I took delivery of my Tiny PC on the 20th May removed the modem driver; installed a generic Conexant driver; and deleted all supanet software however, the modem was still locked down to Supanet.
The solution is in the registry, and it works.
open up the registry editor
go to go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/PDCR4032
and rename band0, band1, band2 (OLDband0) etc
this will unlock your supranet modem.
Change your dialup settigs to your old ISP and no more Supanet.
Success.

What do you man by rename band 0, band 1, band 2 etc.
Can you explain this to me in step by step instructions cos i'm a real dummy, and a real fed up dummy too with my computer.
My registry reads Band000, Band001, and Band002. What do i need to do exactly.
Thanks

Can you explain to me exactly how to do the following.
1.remove the modem driver;
2. installed a generic Conexant driver;
3.delete all supanet software
4. rename band0, band1, band2 (OLDband0) etc
5. Change your dialup settigs to your old ISP
Thankyou

Raj,
From Start go to Run and type "regedit"
This will open up the registry editor
Find the directory
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SOFTWARE
PDCR4032
In there you will find 4 files Default and band0, band1, band2. Simply right click on the files band0, band1, band2 and rename them oldband0, oldband1, oldband2, this will unlock your supranet modem.
Change your dialup settigs to your old ISP and no more Supanet.
Hope this helps

Time has now changed the webpage to allow you to 'de-optimise' your modem (aka have the freedom to chose your own Internet Service Provider). Here's a step-by-step process:
1) Sign up for a supanet FREE i.e. pay as you go account (you'll only pay for the call charges through your usual telephone provider, and you won't be tied into a 12 month contract with Supanet!)
2) Get online
3) Type in this URL:
https://signup.supanet.com/cgi-bin/deopt
(the link used to be https://signup.supanet.com/cgi-bin/myaccount, which DOES NOT work anymore)
4) Type in your username and password
5) Chose de-optimise
6) Fill in the details and resist the urge to fill in a very rude reply for why you wish to do this
7) Look in bafflement at the next message going on about manual updates, then chose to return to main menu
'8) Close your internet connection
9) Do something interesting for 15 minutes (they say 10 minutes, but hey, let's be on the safe side here, plus it gives you enough time to put a stamp on that letter to Watchdog you've just written)
10) Go to Supanet's main dialup window, which will probably still be open, its that annoying thing that pops up every time you've started your new computer and bangs on about how wonderful Supanet is.
11) Chose Options (currently on the left side of the window)
12) Then chose Manual Update
13) That will then reconnect you to the internet, wait until the homepage loads up, and disconnect
14) Start installing your chosen ISP which will now magically be allowed to dial out!
15) Go post that letter to Watchdog.
No doubt Time/Tiny will change how to do this again, so to avoid having to pay £1 a minute if the above method no longer works, try this national rate phone number:
0870 830 3281
And say you want to de-optimise your modem.

Hi dear forumreaders,
My boyfriend also bought a Tiny PC with the 'optimised' modem recently, the tips and solutions suggested on this forum seem very helpful, thanx.
But can anyone please confirm or verify that after signing up for the "pay as you go" account with Supanet, (just to get the modem de-optimised at a later time) one can use 'Supanet Explorer' (the optimised Internet Explorer :-) with a broadband connection?
My friend has lots of problems with his BT connection, which comes with a Yahoo browser, so I would like to check whether we can use the 'Supanet explorer' without problems (like not wanting to connect to Supanet via dial-up, like it did the first time I tried it)
Is there also a way to install a 'normal' Internet Explorer, or 'de-optimise' Supanet Explorer so to speak ?or is that taken care of, after de-optimising the modem?
Thanks in advance for any info,
bye,
Wendy

Thanks very much for this solution, my friend recently bought a PC from Tiny and the supanet & tiny helpdesks were 'extremely helpful' (NOT!).
He is now on ISP of his choice and I can stop getting earache on doing a 140 mile round-trip to fix it!!!!