Setting Up An Internet Connection In Windows ME

Setting Up A New Connection | Checking An Existing Connection | Desktop Shortcut  

An internet connection is created in "dial-up networking." The first section of this tutorial shows you how to access "dial-up networking." The second section shows how to setup your connection to Internet Xpress. The third section shows how to check and adjust settings for optimal performance. The last section of this tutorial will show you how to create a "shortcut" on your desktop. This will allow easy access to the Internet Xpress connection you've just created.

Dial-Up Networking:

The easiest way to access dial-up networking  is pictured below. Click the "start" button in the lower left corner of your screen. Put your mouse pointer over the "settings" option, and a pop-up window will appear to the right. Click on the dial-up networking option.

Another way to access dial-up networking is to click on the "My Computer" icon (pictured below) on your desktop.

"My Computer" will not show a folder for dial-up networking (unlike earlier versions of Windows). It will have a blue hyperlink to dial-up networking in the left side of the window as shown below. Click the link to access dial-up networking.

The following window is the dial-up networking window. There should be a "make new connection" option. (Don't ever attempt to delete this!) You may see internet connections that have already been setup on your computer. For example, the following picture has two old internet connections already setup. One is called TEST and the other is called Old ISP. We suggest that you delete any old connections that are no longer being used. (To delete an old connection, right click over it. On the menu that appears, left click delete. When it asks if you are sure, click, yes.)

Start by selecting the "make new connection" option. If you already have a connection setup then use the following link to get to your configuration options without creating a new connection. <click here to skip to configuration options> Otherwise, double-click on "make new connection".

Type Internet Xpress for your connection name.

Windows ME will automatically select your modem in the second box. If you have more than one modem then you can click the black arrow at the far right of the box to select a different modem. Just be careful that you pick a modem that is actually installed. (It's best to stick with the modem that the computer chooses, unless you are an experienced computer user.) 

After you've filled-in the boxes, click the "configure" button to make sure that your modem has the right settings. These settings are covered in the next section.

The modem configuration options are pictured below. It is usually a good idea to have the speaker volume turned on. This will give you valuable feedback in the event that there is a problem.

You also need to adjust the modem speed. On a regular dial up connection, 57600 is best. (Anything faster will be unstable and anything slower will restrict your connection speed.)

Once you have these settings configured, click the connection tab at the top of the window.

The ideal settings for the connection tab are pictured below. 

Do not change the connection preferences unless you have advanced experience with computers. 

There should be a checkmark next to, Wait for a dial tone before dialing. Also, you don't want to cancel the call if not connected in anything less than sixty seconds. (It takes some time for your computer to make the call and negotiate a connection.)

If you have an internal 56k modem then there is a very good chance that it is a "WIN" modem. Win modems require a special form of "data flow" to get stable connections. If you find that you keep getting disconnected within a few short minutes of connecting then you probably have the wrong "data flow" setup. Click the advanced button in the lower right corner to adjust this setting.

This is where you set a "WIN" 56k modem to use software data flow. Most computers are defaulted to hardware flow control, but many internal 56k modems actually need the software flow control setting.

The most common "WIN" modems are listed here. LT Win 56k; US Robotics 56k Win modem; HSP Micromodem (and anything else with an HSP in the name); SupraMax 56k; PCTel; Shark; Motorola SM56; ESS; Zoltrix.

Advanced users can also set an "init string" in the extra settings box. (You should not alter these settings unless you have advanced experience with computers. An incorrect initialization string can cause your computer to think that there is no modem installed or may cause the modem to malfunction.)

If you have an internal 56k modem, and you can't get a stable connection due to poor phone lines or unreliable modem software, you can try to fix this problems by putting in a V34 init string. This will force your modem to connect at only 34 kbps, but will hopefully provide a far more reliable connection. 

The two most popular V34 init strings are AT+MS=V34 or ATS37=19. Use only one of them at a time and do not put in any extra spaces. 

Remember that if you choose to alter settings, add modem init strings or change modem drivers, you are proceeding at your own risk.

Click OK until you return to the main setup window.

Stop at the window shown below. Click the "next" button.

The next window is where you type the phone number that you will use to connect to Internet Xpress. It is best to put the full number the exact way that you want it dialed by the computer as pictured below.

Enter the area code: 509  

To disable call waiting, put a *70, (including the comma) in front of the number. Remember that most secondary computer-only phone lines don't have call waiting, even if your main phone number does.

Telephone number: 

In Colville use: 640-0100 NOTE: This number will not work outside of Colville (most 684 or 685 prefix areas).

All other areas use: 685-2188

Be sure to put 2 or 3 commas at the end of the phone number. This helps the computer establish a more stable connection, which is especially important if you have a win modem.

This completes the setup wizard. Hit the "finish" button or you can use the "back" button to back up and make changes.

Your Internet Xpress Dial-Up Networking connection is finished, but now you need to check your connection settings.  

Checking Your Connection Settings:

Open your dial-up networking window if it isn't already. <click here for instructions if needed> 

Double-click to open your internet connection. You will see the following window. 

Make sure that the username is correct. Type in your password. Both usernames and passwords are case sensitive, so make sure that you've typed in all lower case letters. If you place a checkmark next to "save password", then your computer will already have your password when you connect. If you do not check this box, then you will have to type in your password whenever you connect to the internet.

Make sure that the phone number is correct. 

In Colville use: 640-0100 NOTE: This number will not work outside of Colville (most 684 or 685 prefix areas).

All other areas use: 685-2188

Adding two or three commas to the end of the phone number will also help establish a more stable connection. Click the "connect" button to try to connect. Once connected, you need to open your web-browser (i.e.. - Internet Explorer or Netscape) to go to websites. Open your e-mail program (i.e.. - Outlook Express or Eudora) to access e-mail.

If you can not connect then click the "properties" button.

Dial-up connections have their own unique properties. The properties window for Internet Xpress is pictured below, starting with the "general" tab. 

Uncheck Use area code and Dialing Properties. You can put a *70, (including the comma) to disable call waiting in front of the dial up number. Remember that most secondary computer-only phone lines don't have call waiting, even if your main phone number does.

Click the "configure" button at the bottom to access modem options.

Modem properties are pictured below. It is usually a good idea to have the speaker volume turned on. This will give you valuable feedback in case the number is being dialed incorrectly.

You also need to select the correct modem speed. On a regular dial up connection, 57600 is best. Anything faster will be unstable and anything slower will restrict your connection speed.

Click the connection tab at the top of the window next.

The ideal settings for the connection tab are pictured below. 

Do not change the connection preferences unless you have advanced experience with computers. There should be a checkmark next to, Wait for a dial tone before dialing. Also, you don't want to cancel the call if not connected in anything less than sixty seconds. It takes some time for your computer to make the call and negotiate a connection.

If you have an internal 56k modem then there is a very good chance that it is a "WIN" modem. Win modems require a special form of "data flow" to get stable connections. If you find that you keep getting disconnected within a few short minutes of connecting then you probably have the wrong "data flow" setup. Click the advanced button in the lower right corner to adjust that.

If you have an internal 56k modem then there is a very good chance that it is a "win" modem. Win modems require a special form of "data flow" to get stable connections. If you find that you keep getting disconnected within a few short minutes of connecting then you probably have the wrong "data flow" setup. Click the advanced button in the lower right corner to reset that.

This is where you set a "WIN" 56k modem to use software data flow. Most computers are defaulted to hardware flow control, but many internal 56k modems actually need the software flow control setting.

The most common "WIN" modems are listed here. LT Win 56k; US Robotics 56k Win modem; HSP Micromodem (and anything else with an HSP in the name); SupraMax 56k; PCTel; Shark; Motorola SM56; ESS; Zoltrix.

Advanced users can also set an "init string" in the extra settings box. ( You should not alter these settings unless you have advanced experience with computers. A bad initialization string can cause your computer to think that there is no modem installed or may cause the modem to malfunction.)

If you have an internal 56k modem, and you can't get a stable connection due to poor phone lines or unreliable modem software, you can try to fix these problems by putting in a V34 init string. This forces your modem to connect at only 34 kbps but will hopefully provide a far more reliable connection. The two most popular V34 init strings are AT+MS=V34 or ATS37=19. Use only one of them at a time and do not put in any extra spaces. 

Remember that if you choose to alter settings, add modem init strings or change modem drivers, you are proceeding at your own risk.

Click OK until you return to the main setup window.

Once you've finished setting up the modem configuration options, click the networking tab at the top to see the following window.

Your type of dial-up server should be "PPP: Internet, Windows 2000/NT, Windows ME." If necessary click the little black arrow at the far right of the box to choose the correct option.

There should be no check next to record a log file. That would just waste space on your computer. Check enable software compression. It will improve the speed and efficiency of your internet connection.

Do not check NetBEUI or IPX/SPX. 

You MUST have a check next to TCP/IP 

Next click the TCP/IP Settings.

Server assigned IP address and Server assigned name server addresses should be selected.

You do need checkmarks for "use IP header compression" and "use default gateway."

Hit OK to return to the networking tab window.

Click the security tab for the following window. Type your username (all lower case letters.) Type in your password. Leave the domain blank. 

Put a checkmark in the "connect automatically" box if you want automatic connection. Do NOT check "log on to network" (unless  you use Frontpage for website development.) Do NOT put in a checkmark for the encryption options. That will definitely prevent you from connecting to Internet Xpress.

Ignore the scripting tab as well as the multilink tab and click on the dialing tab.

The dialing tab is where you setup your computer to use the internet connection. Make it the "default internet connection" with a checkmark and choose "always dial my default connection."

You can "enable idle disconnect" to disconnect from your ISP after a set time frame in case you leave the computer and forget to disconnect. 

Be careful about putting a checkmark in the last option where it can "disconnect when connection may not be needed." This can cause unwanted disconnections when you close your e-mail program or internet browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. Most people prefer to control when they disconnect.

You're finished. Hit the OK button and try to connect again. If you still can't connect then write down any error messages and call Internet Xpress at 685-0403 for assistance.

The next section will help you to create a shortcut on your desktop to connect to the internet.

Creating A Desktop Shortcut:

Open your dial-up networking window. Click on and highlight your connection, then click the file menu to choose "create shortcut" as shown below. You can also right-click on the connection, and left click create a shortcut.

A pop-up window will tell you that you can't create a shortcut in dial up networking. Simply click the "yes" button to put the shortcut on your desktop.

When you go to your desktop, the shortcut will look like the picture below. Click on it to connect to the internet. 

This shortcut will only connect you to the Internet. Once connected, you will need to open your Web browser (like Internet Explorer or Netscape) or your Email program (like Outlook Express or Eudora).

You can also setup Internet Explorer, Netscape, Outlook, Outlook Express and many other Internet related programs to automatically dial the connection for you. (See the configuring Internet programs section.)

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