UNET Dialup Instructions for Windows 95, 98 and ME

This document explains how to set up a PC with a modem and Windows 95, 98 or ME, to use the UNET modem pools to connect to the Internet. We assume that the user has a UNET account. If you don't have an account, you can contact your Campus or Center computing support people or call UNET User Services at 561-3587 (an Orono number).

Each UNET account can use the modem pools for 50 hours of dialup time per month without a charge. If you need more than 50 hours you can pay for additional time at the rate of 30 cents per hour.

Creating a Connection Icon

The images below are screen snapshots taken using a Windows 98 system. You may find that the images you see on your screen vary slightly from the images here if you have Windows ME (Millenium Edition), but the process is the same and variations should be slight.

Locate the Dial-Up Networking folder and double-click to open it. You can find this folder by double-clicking on your "My Computer" icon (usually in the upper left of your desktop), or by using your Start menu, selecting Program Files, then Accessories.

If this is the first time you have opened the Dial-Up Networking folder, Windows will automatically start a "wizard" to make the new connection. Otherwise start it yourself by double-clicking on the "Make New Connection" icon as shown below:

The New Connection wizard will create a new "connection icon" for you in the Dialup Networking folder. Once created, this icon can be used to dial up to the Internet.

The wizard asks you to name your new connection icon. You will see:

Type in any name you want for your new connection icon. In the example above, we have chosen the name "UNET." Your modem name will appear in the "Select a modem" field. Normally you don't need to do anything with the modem name, and you don't need to click the "Configure" button. Click the "Next" button.

Next, the wizard asks you to enter the phone number of the UNET modem pool you want to use. Find your local modem pool in the list below and enter it in the "Telephone number" field. THE AREA CODE FIELD SHOULD BE BLANK.

Here is the list of UNET modem pool phone numbers. You want to use one which is a local phone call for you. If none of the numbers is a local call, either arrange to pay for a dial-up connection through a commercial Internet Service Provider or call the UNET User Services staff at 561-3587 (an Orono call) for advice.

Type in the phone number for your local UNET modem pool, leaving the area code blank. Then click Next, then Finish.

Now there is a new icon in the Dial-Up Networking window representing the connection you just created. You will use this icon to connect to the Internet. To make connection more convenient, you can make a shortcut on your desktop. Click once on your new icon with the right mouse button and select "make shortcut" from the little menu that pops up. The shortcut will be put on your desktop. You can double-click the shortcut instead of the real connection icon to dial up.

Connecting

The connection is now ready to try. Go back to My Computer - Dial-Up Networking and double click on your connection icon (or double-click on your shortcut if you made one). Fill in the screen shown below with your correct UNET username and password. Once you have made a good connection, you will be able to save your password by checking the Save password box. Click on the Connect button to continue.

If all is well you will eventually get a window indicating that you are connected. At this point you can run any Internet applications, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, e-mail programs, the First Class Client and so on.

When you have finished your session, click on the Disconnect button to hang up the phone and free the remote modem. You can find this button by clicking on the icon in your Start bar that represents your connection, or by double-clicking on your connection icon in Dial-up Networking. See the image below:

Troubleshooting

For help with connection problems, call your campus or Center computing support, or UNET User Services at 561-3587 or TechSupport (if you are taking an ITV or UNET Web-based course) at 1-800-696-4357. Note that the 561-3587 number is an Orono exchange and may be a long distance call for you.

Most connection difficulties are caused by a problem with the user's account. Make sure you are using a valid UNET username and password.

If the username and password are corrrect, make sure your account is not blocked because you have used your allotment of 50 hours of dialup time for the month, or, if you arranged to have more than 50 hours, you owe money for the extra. If you can access the Internet, check your account status at:
http://www.maine.edu/unet/dialup.

If it seems to take a very long time to make a connection you may need to change a setting in the properties of your connection icon.

Bring up the properties window for your connection icon (the "real" one, not the shortcut). There are 2 ways to do this:

1. Put your mouse pointer on the icon and click the right mouse button. Select "properties" from the little menu that pops up.

2. Or, click once with your left mouse button on your connection icon to highlight it (don't double-click), and select "properties" from the File menu.

This is about what the properties window looks like (there is some variation between Windows 95 and 98):

If you have Windows 95 or 98, click on the button or tab labeled Server Types Make sure it says "PPP: Windows..." etc. in the field. In the first set of check boxes, only "Enable software compression" should have a check mark next to it. In the second set of boxes, you need to have a check mark next to "TCP/IP" (the others don't matter). Here is a picture:

If your modem doesn't dial at all:
(a) First check that the phone cord from your modem to the wall jack is correctly plugged in. If you connect it to a telephone rather than your modem you should hear a dial tone.

(b) In the properties window of your connection icon, where the name of your modem is shown, click the little downward pointing triangle to see if your machine has more than one modem listed. If it does, try using one of the other modem choices.

If your modem connects but you never get the "connected" box - instead you see "Verifying user id and password" for a long time and then an error message: There may be something wrong with your account (either you are using the wrong username/password or your account is blocked for time).

If the connection completes correctly, but you can't get any Internet program to do anything:
(a) If your modem simply disconnects, there may be a problem with your modem - call for help.

(b) If you remain connected but Netscape, Internet Explorer and so on don't find anything or give you errors, you may have a problem with the TCP/IP component in your Network control panel. Go to that control panel (use your START menu, select SETTINGS, and then Control Panel, then double-click the Network icon) and make sure that you have one and only one TCP/IP component that is associated with your Dial-up Adapter. If you have more than one, remove one of them (NOTE: don't remove any TCP/IP components that are associated with other adapters like AOL or your Ethernet adapter. Don't remove any other components! If you are unsure what to do, call the UNET support phone line, 561-3587 in Orono). Restart your computer and try again.