Familiarize yourself with any software packages that come with the modem by reviewing documentation. Open Transport PPP is pre-installed on many of the newest models of Macintoshes as a part of System 8.0. Check with the telephone company, or look in the telephone book, for the proper touch tone sequence to disable these services. Do not share a telephone line between a modem and a fax machine. Some complex in house switching setups, or situations where extra jacks have been spliced on one line, can cause line noise for data connections.
Unreliable connectivity can result.
Another way to check for a corrupted password is to check e-mail through a direct connection. FreePPP has a number of excellent troubleshooting sources provided with installation. The FreePPP Reference is a full manual on FreePPP and can be found in the FreePPP Software folder or FreePPP 2.6.2 Folder on the top level of the hard drive. Information on scripting for modem pools not using PAP, is available in the FreePPP Reference. In terminal window, the prompts and messages received from the modem and server which is supplying the connection are clearly indicated, and should indicate where the connection is failing.