Changing Windows 2000 and XP to use 10- or 11-digit dialing

Nowadays, more and more area codes, especially in big cities, are requiring 10- or 11-digit dialing for local calls. This means you need to dial the area code for every call, even if you're calling from next door. Some cities (NYC for example) even make you dial a "1" before the area code on all calls.

Here's how to make your Windows 2000 or XP system obey your location's special "area code rules".

1. Getting to your Dialing Rules

As usual, we start with the Start Button.

Windows 2000: Go to "Start", then "Settings", then "Control Panel". (shown on left)
Windows XP: Go to "Start", and choose "Control Panel". (shown on right)

Windows XP only: If your Control Panel says "Pick a category", you need to switch to Classic View first, like so:

In the Control Panel, find and click "Phone and Modem Options".
click Phone and Modem Options

In the Phone And Modem Options dialog, select your local location (the one with your area code) and click "Edit". (shown on left)
If your area code is not listed, click "New" to make a new location. (shown on right)
choose your location and click Edit just click New if your area code is not shown

Now we're ready to make the rules.

2. Setting your new Area Code Rules

In the "Edit Location" (or "New Location") dialog, type a name for your location if you like, and then type your area code in the "Area code" field. (a.)

Now click the "Area Code Rules" tab. (b.)
Type your area code, then click Area Code Rules

Area Code Rules:
Your area code rules box should be empty to begin with. Click "New" to create a new rule.
click New to make a new area code rule

In the "New Area Code Rule" dialog:

type your area code (so this rule will apply to local calls)
Select "Include all the prefixes within this area code" (so it applies to all local calls)
Put a check in both "Dial: 1" and "Include the area code".
(If your area allows 10-digit dialing, i.e. doesn't require the 11-digit "one-plus-area-code" approach, you can leave the "Dial: 1" box empty.)

Type your area code, include all prefixes, check Dial 1 and check Include the Area Code

Now click "OK".
Your "Edit Location" (or "New Location") dialog should now look something like this:
area code rule now present saying - Dial 1 plus area code

Now you can click "OK" here, and "OK" again in the Phone and Modem Options to finish.

To test your changes:

In Windows XP: just activate the icon for your local dial-up connection, and look at the phone number.

In Windows 2000: activate the icon for your local dialup connection, and click "Properties". Near the bottom of the Properties dialog, the number should appear as it will be dialed.

That's all!