Situation:
When you connect to a host computer, you see a black screen with a blinking cursor, a black screen with random ASCII characters, or a toolbar with no host desktop icons.

Solution:
Sometimes, deleting temporary files and restarting the computer solves this problem, so this is the first thing to try. If that does not solve the problem, find the section below that describes the symptoms and follow the instructions. Click an icon to either expand ( ) or collapse ( ) each section. (If you cannot expand a section, then read the document Cannot expand or collapse a solution in a Symantec Knowledge Base document.)

Delete temporary files and restart the computer


Black screens are caused by two general categories of problems: connection problems and video driver problems. If you have tried deleting temporary files and that did not solve the problem, find the section below that describes the symptom, and follow the instructions:

Black screen with pcAnywhere toolbar

Black screen with blinking cursor

Black screen with ASCII characters


Black screen, then immediate disconnection

The most common causes for a black screen and immediate disconnection are listed below.

Encryption level mismatch
pcAnywhere has four encryption levels ranging from None to Public/Private key. By default, if a host and remote are set for different encryption levels, the higher level will drop down to the lower level. However, you can configure the connection item to disallow this reduction of encryption levels. If this option is checked and the encryption levels between the host and remote do not match, you will see a black screen and then lose the connection.

Software modems
Bad versions of software modem drivers can also cause an immediate disconnection. This often happens with older software modems (28.8 and 33.6). For more information, see the section on modem drivers earlier in this document.

Improper adapter on modem cable
If you have an external modem with an adapter screwed onto the modem cable, you may experience a black screen followed by an immediate disconnect. The adapter converts the cable connector from 9-pin to 25-pin or vice versa. Many of these adapters do not convert the pins properly. The result is that the modems do not detect the proper hardware flow control signals on the proper pins, and they disconnect. This is best solved by purchasing a modem cable with the correct connectors at each end.

Prompt to confirm connection set at the host
If you call the host computer and make a connection, but after a specific period of time you are disconnected, the "Prompt to confirm connection" option may be enabled in the security features of the host computer. This feature lets a user at the host allow or deny access to the host. If no response is received from the host to confirm access, you will be disconnected.

To disable this feature

1. Right-click the host connection item, and then click Properties.
2. On the Security Options tab, uncheck Prompt to confirm connection.
3. Click OK.

Connection is limited to specific IP addresses
You have the ability in pcAnywhere to limit the IP addresses that remotes can connect from. If you are trying to connect to a host from an IP address that is not specifically listed, this problem may occur.

To add an address to the list of allowed addresses

1. Open pcAnywhere on the host computer.
2. Click Tools, and then click Options.
3. On the Host Communications tab, add the IP address of the Remote to the list of allowed addresses.
4. Click OK.

Routing and Remote Access is enabled
If you are running Windows 2000 Server or Professional, the Routing and Remote Access service may be enabled. This will answer calls after one ring and then display a black screen and blinking cursor.

To disable the Routing and Remote Access service

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. Double-click Administrative Tools, and double-click Services.
3. Double-click the Routing and Remote Access service, and click Stop.
4. In the Startup type drop-down menu, select Disabled.
5. Click OK, and close all open windows.

Recreate the host and/or remote items
A corrupted host or remote item can cause the pcAnywhere connection to fail. Delete the existing item and recreate a new host or remote item in pcAnywhere

Document ID: 199753082441
Last Modified: 01/05/2007
Date Created: 05/30/1997
Operating System(s): Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows NT3.51
Product(s): pcAnywhere 10.0, pcAnywhere 10.5, pcAnywhere 9.0